I was admiring the skill with which she stripped a sheep of its fleece, and standing near her at the same time, with a black-faced ewe between my knees, ready to pass the animal to her when she was ready for it.  Letting the shorn ewe escape, she stood up and looked over the moorland in the direction of Stromness.

“Hullo! here’s some stranger coming up the brae,” she said, shading her eyes with her hand.  “Who in the world can it be, Halcro?  Surely it’s not the dominie?”

But the dominie it was.  He came up to where we were at work, and sat upon a heathery knoll near my mother, with whom he engaged in some ordinary gossip.

“But,” said he, after a while, “it was Halcro himself that I came up to see.”

“Me!” I said.  “What can ye want to see me about, Mr. Drever?”

“To tell you that I’m to gang to Edinburgh,” he replied.

“To Edinburgh!” I exclaimed, wondering what his mission could be.

“Ay, Halcro, I’m to be there for a few weeks, partly on pleasure and partly on business, concerning our auld friend Jarl Haffling.  The museum folk there are anxious to have the viking’s treasure, and I hae gotten permission to deal wi’ them in the matter.  I dinna ken what money they will gie me for the things; but, ye see, whatever it be, Halcro, a third part of it will come to Hercus and Rosson and yersel’, to be divided among ye.  Do ye agree to that?  Will ye trust me to transact the business for ye?”

“Oh, certainly, sir.  But surely it’s ower muckle trouble to put you to?” I said.

“Trouble!  Dinna think o’ trouble, lad.  Why, these auld coins and things hae been mair pleasure to me than I can tell; for, look ye, all the time I hae had the keeping o’ them, I hae been studying them; and—­and, Halcro, I hae even written a little book about Jarl Haffling’s grave, and I shouldna be surprised though that book be printed.  Think o’ that, lad!  A book written by your ain dominie printed!  Nay, nay, Halcro, dinna speak o’ trouble.”

“And what is being done about Tom Kinlay, sir?” I asked.

“Weel, as to that, ye see, the lad has broken the law by appropriating his part o’ the treasure, and selling it.  I can do nothing mysel’, beyond stating the nature o’ his offence.  The law must tak’ the matter into its own hands.  Beyond a doubt it will do so; and ye’ll see, Halcro, that it was far better for you and the other two lads to put the viking’s treasure into my hands, instead o’ makin’ fools o’ yersels as Tom Kinlay has done.”

“I am sure, sir, I am perfectly satisfied,” I said.  “And now, Mr. Drever, I suppose you will wish me to give up my magic stone?  Must it go to Edinburgh with the rest?”

“The talisman?  Weel, I hadna thought that.  Ye see, it isna worth muckle.  No, I think ye needna send it now.  But keep it wi’ care, dinna lose it, just in case it is wanted.  Of course I hae written about it in the book, and it may be claimed; but keep it for the present, Halcro.”