mpassioned speech of
one filled with religious fervour; when we read of suffering borne
patiently, of fortitude unequalled amid awful tribulation, of quiet
perseverance conquering difficulty--we recognise the strength of the
Hebrew race. When we are told of some venturesome band daring the
dangers of iceberg and darkness in penetrating to the secret haunts of
Nature; when we learn that gallant seamen are guiding civilisation to
the farthest corners of the earth, are doing deeds of heroism that stir
our deepest feelings of reverence; when we know that our explorers and
sailors laugh at peril and face death without fear; when we see numbers
of our boys, from the prince who stands by the throne to the city
outcast who begs at our door, prefer and seek sea-life rather than any
other--we acknowledge with pride that the power of our sea-king sires
is dominant yet.

"The Jew and the Norseman have surely been chosen of Heaven to keep the
human race from degenerating, for the soul of the Jew rules our moral
being, and the spirit of the Norseman controls our intellectual nature.
The nursery of our faith was the tent of an Arab shiek, and the cradle
of our fame was the bark of a northern Viking."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

"SEA-RUNES GOOD AT NEED."

"Well, boys, I suppose you want to be off early," said the Yarl next
morning, when he came in for breakfast and found his young guests in a
ferment of excitement asking each other, "Where did you put the
knives?" "Have you remembered matches?" "I vote we take a whole ham
with us." "You've left out the log-book." "For goodness' sake,
somebody carry a pencil."

"You look like business, on my word," their host added, smiling; "and I
wish I were a boy too."

"Never mind, sir; come with us all the same," cried Yaspard, but old
Halsen shook his head.

"The glamour of boyhood is wanting. I could not enjoy such a voyage of
adventure and exploring in the right way now. But I shall want to hear
all about it; so mind you use Garth's note-book and keep an accurate
log."

"I'll see to that," quoth Harry; and Tom added, "I do the messing, and
Harry does the writing."

When all preparations were made, the Yarl insisted that they should
march to the shore in proper style, with Yaspard walking in front
carrying his new flag, hoisted for the occasion on Mr. Halsen's
walking-stick.

It was a lovely flag indeed. Isobel had been working on it for a long
time, intending it for Fred, but