"But won't uncle be dreadfully angry if you interfere? Won't he stop all your Vikinging and our meeting——"
"If," Yaspard interrupted, "I were fool enough to show my hand in the matter. No, no, Mootie, you don't understand a bit. We shall manage it so cleverly that uncle and Mr. Neeven will take for granted the sealkie escaped of herself. You see, Uncle Brüs makes laws for himself that are not proper, so he can't grumble if they don't work to his satisfaction at all times."
"I wish, though, that we could just beg for the seal, and settle it nicely," said Signy.
"Not a bit of good; that would make more fuss still, and unsettle everything, and—I'd lose my fun."
The Osprey was not far from Yelholme by that time, and Yaspard, pointing to the little isle, said, "It was that old rock with the green nightcap that caused my capture."
"It's a pretty peerie holme," Signy remarked. "I like the little morsel of green turf on top. I wonder how it ever manages to grow there, for the skerry must be swept by the sea more often than not."
"There's something white on it," Yaspard exclaimed, "something white and moving. Why, goodness me!" and he stood up in great excitement, "it is awfully like a person."
He moved his helm so as to bring the boat nearer Yelholme than his course; and very soon they discovered that the "something white" was really a human being.
"It's a man; and he must be hurt, for he is lying on his side waving to us. He would stand up if he could," Yaspard cried.
"Oh, poor creature! We must save him," said Signy.