oting without a boat."

"I see, I see. Ay, Jack, but that's a pity, man. And ye canna get
the money towards buying the St. Magnus?"

"No; the St. Magnus is for sale, I weel ken that, and she's a right
good boat. But where can a poor crofter body like me get the
siller, think ye?"

"'Deed, I dinna ken, Jack; but maybe the siller will come somehow.
There's many a one in Orkney would advance it for you, surely.
Dinna be cast down about it, man. What about your crew?"

"Weel, I was thinkin' of yersel for one, Halcro?"

"Of me!"

"Ay, and Jimmie Crageen, and Ronald Ray from Kirbister, and Steenie
Barrie; all o' them good honest men and weel acquainted wi' the
Orkneys. What d'ye say, Halcro? Will ye join us?"

"I canna say, Jack. Ye see there's the Falcon. I couldna leave
Davie Flett very well; though I'll not deny I'd rather be a pilot
than anything else."

"Weel, ye'll think of it any way; and if we can get the money,
there's no doubt but we'll manage the business right enough."

With that I left Jack on the wharf and continued my way, meditating
upon this chance of fulfilling my ambition of being a Pomona pilot.

I had not gone far, however, when I heard a quick step behind me.

"Ericson, Ericson!" some one called.

I turned and saw Lieutenant Fox following me in full uniform, and
with a young midshipman attending him. He came up to me, and, after
a few ordinary observations, said:

"I wanted to ask you something, Ericson. We're short-handed on the
Clasper, and we need the help of a man who knows these islands
well; someone who knows all about the people, and can be of service
in keeping down the smuggling. Now, what d'ye say? Will you join us
yourself?"

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Fox," I replied, for I had already half made
up my mind about the piloting, and with true Orkney instinct I
clung to the old ways of my family. "I'm afraid not, sir. You see
I'm aboard the Falcon just now, and if I leave Davie Flett it will
only be to join the new pilots.

"But if you're needing a hand," I continued, thinking just then of
Willie Hercus, "I can get you a lad that knows just about as much
of the Orkneys as I do, one that has always wished to be a
man-o'-war's man."

"I'd rather have yourself, Ericson," said the officer. "Just think
about it, will you? It's a good opening for you, and you may yet
reach the quarterdeck and become an admiral, and fly your own
pennant before you're as old as Davie Flett. Let me know as