Then it happened one autumn afternoon that a stranger vessel was seen, on the Westing Bicht, making tacks for the isle. The people had always cause to suspect an unknown sail, and they watched the stranger’s approach with some fear. As he drew nearer, it was observed that he closely resembled the Erne of old, but carried the white flag of peace. The Norland pirates ever scorned to conceal their true character, which was never a treacherous one, but flaunted their ruthless blood-red colours in the face of day. If a viking hoisted the white banner, he meant peace; and so well was this known, and so thoroughly could all men trust in the good faith of a viking, that the islanders instantly sent off a boat to the vessel, though they suspected it was a pirate ship. The stranger had a boat in tow, and when the islanders came near, he lay-to and allowed them to come alongside of his convoy. What was the fishermen’s astonishment to find that the boat was no other than that of the Unst udaller!
Then a stern voice spoke from the ship. ‘Come not nearer,’ it said, in a patois half-Danish, half-English, which the Hialtlanders could interpret well enough. ‘Come not nearer; but undo the tow-line, and take that boat to its owner. It is freighted with goodly gifts for the udaller’s three fair daughters, who will know whence those tokens come.—And know, ye hinds of Unst, that ye owe your lives and all that makes life precious to the golden-haired maidens.—Begone!’ Then the speaker—easily recognised as the Denschman—made imperious sign to his mariners, who speedily put the vessel on another tack, and before many minutes he was running out to sea again.
The islanders towed the laden boat ashore, where a throng was waiting their return. Numerous questions were asked, numerous conjectures made. The udaller and his daughters were summoned and the precious cargo displayed. Table utensils of silver, personal ornaments of gold, silken stuffs and snowy linens, rich wines and fruits, and precious grain, whatever could please feminine taste, were spread before the wondering people, while the three sisters stood mute and blushing, now cowering with strange shame, anon glancing with curious pride at all around.
Presently, their old father addressed them in grave and troubled tones: ‘Tell us the meaning of this strange güdic [riddle].’
At that, the two younger girls fell on their knees and clasped his hands entreatingly, while the eldest sister cried: ‘O father, do not be angered, and I will tell ye all. We heard you speak of the Denschman in his sore strait with nobody to pity him. It’s true he had dealt cruelly by our isle; but—but, O father, it lay heavy on our hearts that a man—and such a man, with such a goodly presence and such a bold spirit—should die like an otter trapped in a snare; and so, we—we went to the rock in the dark hour of nicht, and we lowered a keschie [basket] to him with food and cordials and clothes—everything to keep in life. And then—when we knew that our men meant to stone the poor defenceless captive to death, our souls were melted with pity; so we took the boat and helped him to escape. We were not afraid of the Denschman; and, truth to tell, he can be kind and gentle like other men. Or ere he left the isle—all in the mirk hour—he promised that, because of what we had done, he would never harry Unst again. No doubt, it was wrong of us, father; but then, oh, be mindful that the plight he was in could not fail to touch lasses’ hearts. And if good instead of harm come of it—nay, has come of it—ye need not trouble yourself more, but forgive us, and trust the Denschman to keep his word. He will do so. We all know that a viking stands to his promise, whate’er betide.’
‘The lass has spoken words of wisdom,’ said a prudent matron, eyeing the viking’s royal gifts; and a laughing seaman added: ‘Ay, and what would come of us poor men if lasses were not pitiful, and not just altogether wise at times!’
So the old udaller forgave his daughters, and—as legend says—‘after that Unst was often benefited, and never more harried, by the Denschman,’ whose ‘had’ is still pointed out to the inquiring stranger.
AN ELECTRICAL FURNACE.
Some of the enormous power which runs waste at the Falls of Niagara is about to be utilised at last, and, strangely enough, the first work required of the water will be the smelting of refractory ores. This new undertaking is to be carried out by the Cowles Electrical Furnace Company, the inventors of the process being Messrs Eugene H. and Alfred H. Cowles. Their experimental works at Cleveland, Ohio, have been so successful, that they were awarded the John Scott premium and the Elliot Cresson medal of the Franklin Institute. While labouring under various disadvantages, the Company was yet able to produce metallic combinations that promise to be of great importance, such as aluminium bronze, aluminium silver, aluminium brass, and silicon bronze in ingots, castings, wire, and rolled metal. Some of these alloys were manufactured into different articles in every-day use. They exhibited screws of aluminium brass; knives with blades of aluminium silver, and handles of aluminium bronze; together with a number of other manufactured articles. Aluminium bronze is stronger than steel, is not so liable to rust, and, being elastic and ductile, if it can be produced at a cheap enough rate, it should have a great future before it. For instance, cycles made of it would be lighter, stronger, and more easily kept clean than those made of steel. This industry alone should create a large demand. Silicon bronze, also, from its electric conductivity, tensile strength, lightness, and non-corrosiveness, will be a desirable substitute for iron and copper in telegraphy; while aluminium silver—an alloy containing the special bronze with nickel—will be serviceable for cutlery and fancy articles. Pure aluminium, however, has this great disadvantage, that it tarnishes readily, and unless something can be done to remedy the defect, its usefulness will be considerably restricted. At the same time, these alloys bid fair to supplant steel and other metals in the manufacture of light articles where strength and appearance are desirable.