f the
gentlemen, even though they were very intently turning out the contents
of a cabinet.

"Ah, poor things! I don't often forget them," Mr. Adiesen said by way
of explaining the clamour outside, and--excusing himself to his
guests--he hurried away to his menagerie.

Dr. Holtum and Fred stood together at the window and watched the
scientist distribute food to his dependants, while Fred told the Doctor
a great deal of what had passed between himself and his hereditary
enemy; and we may be sure his listener rejoiced over such a happy
termination to the feud of years.

A pleasant morning glided swiftly to the hour of noontide dinner, when
the boys returned to the Ha' hungry and in high spirits. They had
concocted a grand "lark" while at Noostigard; and they had encountered
Mr. Neeven at the Hoobes, when he had invited Tom to come to
Trullyabister whenever he so pleased.

"And I'll go," said Tom, when the recluse was out of hearing. "I'll
go, and I'll take the rest of us with me."

After dinner the Doctor said, "You have a Lunda boat here; and I must
be at Collaster this afternoon, but I don't want to hurry Fred.
Perhaps some of the boys will take me home and return for him."

But Fred required to go home too, so it was settled that the whole
Lunda party were to depart together.

"We are to meet, however, on Friday," said Fred, "and have a splendid
picnic in honour of little Signy. She is to be queen of our revels."

"Hurrah! All right! Just your style! Good for you, Fred!" In such
words the lads let it be known how thoroughly they appreciated any such
project; and when they subsided Mr. Adiesen said, "I wished the picnic
to be here--on Boden, I mean; our island is a scrap compared with Lunda
in size, but we have some cliffs and caves quite as fine as those of
any of the Shetland Isles; and I could show you some fine scenery from
the Heogue. But Mr. Garson wishes his picnic to be held on----" The
old gentleman came to a very full stop, pushed back his spectacles from
his nose to his forehead, drew himself up and looked around, meaning to
be very emphatic indeed (which he was). "Yes," he resumed, when all
his hearers were sufficiently impressed with the importance of what he
had to state--"yes, Mr. Garson desires, and I cordially agree, that the
picnic--I might call it the celebration of our thanksgiving for my
Signy's preservation. Yes--hum! this meeting of my family with our
_friends_ of Lunda is to