28 FIELD AND FERN. 



after night, this dark tan fisher may be seen sliding 

 noiselessly into the creek below the volunteer bat- 

 teries, mivexed with thoughts of Dandy, hound, or 

 gun. Shapinsey gunnery has a far nobler object. 

 Ninety charges were dealt out to the volunteer 

 artillery troop, and they smashed the target fifteen 

 times on three practice-days, thirteen hundred yards 

 out at sea. Not a few of Washington Irving's kins- 

 folk were among the eighty which signed the Balfour 

 muster-roll, and fell into rank behind the guns, and 

 one of them still occupies the old house at Quholm. 

 Inspired by the sight, we formed forthwith part of a 

 storming party to Hellersay. Marcus Calder, that 

 epicure in walking-sticks, fitted us all round from his 

 armoury, the aggregate result of his visits to too 

 confiding friends. Title or no title, they were all 

 needed now. Thor steals down with a roan Sarah 

 and a red Hagar to the beach, to dispute our landing, 

 and manfully lows defiance, up to his very knees in 

 the sedge. Vain is the form of Volunteer Allegiance 

 in the provost of KirkwalFs pocket. Thor has de- 

 fied Professor Aytoun, sheriff of Orkney and the 

 Shetlands from the selfsame spot before, and what 

 cares he for a provost ? Still he retreats under the 

 stick-and-stone practice, kneeling as he goes, and 

 whirling the black loam far above his head, but only 

 to advance, on our departure, with a louder flourish 

 of trumpets than ever. 



The Druid heads the Shetland pony contingent 

 on Hellersay. All the foals are by him ; and among 



