fs up, and sometimes she falls off; so as to
holding a steady course, I find that out of the question. Ah, now I
know all about it. I have come, most noble captain, feeling assured
that you are of gentle birth and a man of honour, to invite you and your
officers to visit Lunnasting Castle. My cousin and I will do our best
to receive you as becomes your rank."

Don Hernan, who believed that Miss Wardhill had really sent this strange
being to invite him to the castle, replied, in suitable terms, that he
should have great happiness in paying his respects to her. He also
explained his connection with the Brindister family, and begged Lawrence
to say that he hoped to visit Lunnasting in the character of a kinsman.

Lawrence was about to step into his boat when he saw Rolf Morton, who,
hearing that a boat was alongside, had just come on deck with the
intention of going on shore. He and Rolf were always on very good
terms; so, when the latter begged for a cast on shore, he gladly
undertook to land him wherever he wished.

"Abreast of the ship will suit me, for in half an hour I can be at
home," answered Morton. "Good-bye, Don Hernan; should the wind shift, I
will be on board in a trice; or should you want me, send. We have not
so many houses in Whalsey that mine cannot be found without difficulty."

Saying this, he was following Lawrence into the skiff, when the latter
cried out, "Hold fast! you are stepping on Surly Grind, Morton; he'll
not like it, let me tell you. He's apt to treat with scant ceremony
those who offend him."

Morton looked down, and saw, coiled away at the bottom of the skiff,
where Lawrence had taught him to lie, a huge black dog, with an
unusually ferocious expression of countenance, though from his coat he
had evidently much of the Newfoundland breed in him, but his face showed
that he had also much of that of the mastiff and bloodhound, probably.

"Lie down, Surly Grind, and treat my visitors with respect," said
Lawrence; and the dog, which had lifted up his head and begun to growl
and snarl, crouched down as before.

"Now, take your seat, man, and I'll show you how a true Shetlander can
pull," said Lawrence, taking his place at the oars and giving several
rapid strokes.

"But I deem that I have a right to hail from Shetland also, Master
Lawrence," answered Morton. "There is no other land owns me, and it is
hard for a man to be without a country or a home."

"Ay, true; you have a Shetl