FOLK-LORE FROM UNST. 229 



and Jcept the secret till all was fully matured. Then, 

 one night, at a preconcerted signal, they simultaneously 

 murdered the sleeping Danes, and freed their lawful 

 but enslaved husbands. As a reward for this action, 

 and to commemorate the occasion when women had 

 kept a secret, the wife was henceforth to occupy the 

 honoured post at the " top of the board." 



What a change has come over the old place since 

 the time of which I have remembrance. The last 

 few years have overturned everything in the islands, 

 and the only comfort left is the thought that not even 

 long-headed Aberdonians can stamp the traces of a 

 ruthless hand upon the Norland seas, or give the rocks 

 of Fatherland notice to quit ! 



Civilisation has got up to Shetland at last. The 

 telegraph wires have found their way even there, and 

 every two or three days a first-class passenger steam- 

 boat leaves Granton en route for the islands. 



