"But I'd like to give it him, pilot. He'll soon learn how to use it properly.
"Won't you, Halcro?
"And as for shooting himself, why, remember the magic stone, pilot."
Father muttered something to the effect that it was very good of the captain; and I, who was overwhelmed with gratitude for his kindness, feebly added my thanks. So Captain Gordon gave me the fowling piece, together with a canister of gunpowder, and sufficient swan shot, I thought, to kill all the wild fowl in Orkney.
As I was leaving the ship, joyous in the possession of these ample materials for a whole summer of sport, and was bidding farewell to Captain Gordon, the mate came towards us at the rail and touched his hat.
"Well, Marshall, d'you want anything sent ashore?" asked the skipper.
"Yes, sir," said Marshall, "I want to tell you that the men are grumbling about this cat being brought aboard. You know how superstitious they are. They want the lad to take it away with him again."
"Their objections are silly and childish, Marshall," said Mr. Gordon. "They know that the ship is overrun with mice."
"Yes, yes, sir; that's all very well. But they won't have the cat aboard; and I think you'd better have the beast sent off."
"The men are a pack of fools. What harm can the poor cat do them, I'd like to know? They think it's unlucky, I suppose. Well, if they will have it so, send a couple of them down the hold to capture the animal. We must just bear the mice if the cat cannot remain. Look smart, now, the boy's in a hurry to get to his school."