en Bor Skade, he tried to climb over him, and
Nichol Sinclair, he tried to hold him back, but the sailors shouted,
'Bravo, little Jan Vedder!' and the skipper he shouted 'Bravo!' and
thy father, he shouted higher than all the rest. And when Jan had cut
loose the prize, he was like to greet for joy, and he clapped his
hands, and kissed Jan, and he gave him five gold sovereigns,--see,
then, if he did not!" And little Jan proudly put his hand in his
pocket, and held them out in his small soiled palm.

The feat which little Jan had accomplished is one which means all to
the Shetland boy that his first buffalo means to the Indian youth.
When a whaler is in Arctic seas, the sailors on the first of May make
a garland of such bits of ribbons, love tokens, and keep-sakes, as
have each a private history, and this they tie to the top of the
main-mast. There it swings, blow high or low, in sleet and hail, until
the ship reaches her home-port. Then it is the supreme emulation of
every lad, and especially of every sailor's son, to be first on board
and first up the mast to cut it down, and the boy who does it, is the
hero of the day, and has won his footing on every Shetland boat.

What wonder, then, that Margaret was proud and happy? What wonder that
in her glow of delight the thing she had been seeking was made clear
to her? How could she go better to Suneva than with this crowd of
happy boys? If the minister thought she ought to share one of her
blessings with Suneva, she would double her obedience, and ask her to
share the mother's as well as the wife's joy.

"One thing I wish, boys," she said happily, "let us go straight to
Peter Fae's house, for Hal Ragner must tell Suneva Fae the good news
also." So, with a shout, the little company turned, and very soon
Suneva, who was busy salting some fish in the cellar of her house,
heard her name called by more than fifty shrill voices, in fifty
different keys.

She hurried up stairs, saying to herself, "It will be good news, or
great news that has come to pass, no doubt; for when ill-luck has the
day, he does not call any one like that; he comes sneaking in." Her
rosy face was full of smiles when she opened the door, but when she
saw Margaret and Jan standing first of all, she was for the moment too
amazed to speak.

Margaret pointed to the wreath: "Our Jan took it from the top-mast of
the 'Arctic Bounty;'" she said. "The boys brought him home to me, and
I have brought him to thee,