suspicion
that Carver, who had often posed as a very innocent man, was,
either directly or indirectly, in league with the smugglers of
Scapa Flow. That could be the only way in which he could obtain
spirits or other illicit goods at a lower rate than through the
ordinary channels of commerce; and the pilot's evasion of the
question regarding excise almost confirmed my suspicions.

Kinlay walked slowly away, and when he had disappeared, Davie Flett
turned round to me with open arms as though he would embrace me.

"Halcro, my lad," said he, "I am real glad to see you. Thank the
Lord ye're safe!"

"I might say the same to you, captain," said I. "How were ye
rescued, and where are Peter and Jerry?"

"Peter and Jerry are at Oliver Gray's," he answered. "Come, let us
join them. As for mysel', why, there's nothing much to tell. I was
picked up by the boat ten minutes after I dropped owerboard. We
searched about for you all night. But ye mind what a mist was ower
the sea. It was no wonder we lost sight of the schooner. But ye're
safe, and that's a blessing."

The skipper then began to ask me a multitude of questions
concerning the behaviour of the schooner. But we were now passing
through the narrow street and I was interrupted; for we overtook
old Colin Lothian, the wandering beggar, who was trudging along
over the frost-covered stones with his dog at his heels.

"Weel, Colin, auld crony," exclaimed the skipper as we came
alongside the old man, "you're aye travelling. Think you we're to
have some more snow?"

"Nay, captain, I dinna think it; the wind's ower high for that,"
the wanderer replied, looking up at the dull sky above Gray's
signboard.

"Then if it isna snow it'll be a night o' hard frost," said the
skipper. "Will ye come in and take something to warm ye, Colin?"

And Colin silently complied.

Entering the inn we found a goodly number of men gathered round the
cosy stove with steaming glasses before them. Most of them were men
of Pomona; but I noticed also a young man who sat somewhat apart
from the rest, and in him, despite the absence of naval uniform, I
had little difficulty in recognizing Lieutenant Fox of the Clasper,
who had boarded the Falcon some weeks before in the Sound of Hoxa.

Then, too, there were Peter and Jerry, both of whom welcomed me
with many words of kindness, and made room for me beside them.

Captain Flett ordered Oliver to bring in a glass of hot rum for
himself, and two mugs o