tain amount of
satisfaction was displayed in his countenance: he rather believed in
his own cuteness, and thought he had found the solution of the puzzle.

"It was stupid of us," he said, "to forget that Gloy can take the water
like a sealkie. He would swim round the rocks till he reached an easy
landing-place. There are plenty quite near."

"Pirate was on guard," said Yaspard, "and would not have allowed him to
quit the geo unless I had given a word of command. Besides, Gloy let
us understand that he would not try to escape, and knew that I trusted
him, therefore took no further precautions."

"Perhaps a boat came by and picked him up," Lowrie answered, scratching
his head for some new ideas.

"Has any boat been near Boden voe to-day?"

"We have not seen any. I think faither wad have kent if any boat had
been this way, for he has gleg een in respect o' boats."

"There is only one boat he would have gone with, and that is the
_Laulie_," said Yaspard musingly. "Perhaps the Manse boys came after
us in real Viking fashion, and in that case----"

"Hi!" Gibbie exclaimed then, catching sight of Yaspard's fishing-rod,
stuck upright in the sand at the farther side of the geo. A bit of
white paper fluttering on top of the rod had drawn Gibbie's attention,
and he was not long in seizing upon this. It had been carefully tied
to the line and fastened on the rod, and when the paper was released
the three eagerly put their heads together to read what was written
inside.

In Gloy's cramped, unformed caligraphy was traced a few words,
mysterious, but, on the whole, reassuring.

"I'm all right. I haven't broken faith with you, and no more has
Pirate; but you need not be scared about me.--I am still THE PRISONER."

"Well, this beats everything!" Yaspard exclaimed then grasping Pirate
by his shaggy coat, he cried, "Oh, my dog, if you could speak English!
I believe you could if you tried. Tell us, Pirate, where has our
lawful captive gone?"

Pirate yelped and jumped around, then ran to the boat and looked
wistfully at his master as much as to say, "Why do you remain in such a
horrid hole? This is no place for you or me."

Interpreting his actions aright, the Viking said, "I suppose you are
about right, doggie; you've been here too long already, and there is
nothing to keep _us_ here any longer."

Considerably crestfallen and perplexed, they left the geo, and sailed
slowly up the voe once more, asking one another w