HIS FINIS. 379 



— only a short tramp across the hill, lads. I will guide 

 you there, for you see for yourselves Mrs. Gertson is 

 in no condition to attend to us." 



" I'll stay where I am," exclaimed the Captain. " I 

 was nearly battered to bits among the rocks, and 

 there is room for one at least by this fire. The bonnie 

 young mistress, ill though she be, won't grudge a half- 

 drowned chap a bit of her hearthstone." 



" Oh yes, stay — do stay," Breeta eagerly cried. " I 

 could not be left alone. I should die o' fear. Oh, 

 what can ha'e happened to him ? " 



The men stared at her in amazement. 



"Do you think," Yaspard asked, "anything has 

 happened to your — to James Gertson ? " 



" I fear sae," she whispered, gazing fearfully around 

 the room. " He went over the hill this afternoon, 

 and he has not come hame, and, oh dear, what 

 shall I do ? I — I ha'e seen — oh, I ha'e seen his 

 Finis ! " 



Sailors are all superstitious, and Breeta's hearers, 

 although scarcely believing that the Finis had "ap- 

 peared," yet felt somewhat uncomfortable at her words. 

 Said Yaspard to the frightened girl — 



"I will take my comrades to your father's house, 

 and after that I will go and inquire about James Gert- 

 son. I will return as soon as possible. Meanwhile I 

 am sure our Captain will take care of you." 



She glanced timidly at Yaspard, who could not 

 trust hirnself to look back into the eyes which had 

 been so full of love for him last time they met his 



