It was while he was looking out for further remains of the
wreck that Sandy Ericson discovered Carver Kinlay in the Gaulton
Cave, and with him the child we know as Thora."
"Kinlay's own child, that is," observed the bailie.
"I believe not, Mr. Duke," said Andrew. "She is the daughter of
this Mr. Quendale, the owner of the wrecked ship."
"Indeed! You believe that, Andrew?"
"I firmly believe it."
"Had we not better send for Mrs. Kinlay, to hear what she has to
say on the matter?" said Mr. Duke.
"Mrs. Kinlay is dangerously ill. However, I was at Crua Breck
yesterday and saw her. It seems that when Sandy took the bairn to
her, she, in her excitement at its recovery, claimed it as her own.
There was no clothing on the child to identify it by, you see, and
she did not discover her mistake for some hours after Sandy had
gone. But Sandy had told her that Mr. Quendale was to return to
Pomona very soon, and Thora was kept there until her father should
come back."
"But, Andrew, man, how do you explain their keeping Thora and
bringing her up as their own bairn if, as you affirm, she was known
to be the daughter of other parents?"
"Simply in this way," said Mr. Drever; "Carver, you see, knew very
well that Mr. Quendale was expected back in Orkney. He kept the
girl, as his wife confesses, hoping for a ransom from so wealthy a
father.
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