"Yes," said Andrew, when he had returned the greeting. "They're not
so bad, and I've had some fine sport with them. Are you coming from
Kirkwall?"

"No," replied the sailor. "I was just up the hill there for a
saunter in the gloaming. The gloaming lasts very long here, I
notice. What time is it dark in midsummer?"

"In midsummer?" replied Andrew. "Well, it's seldom darker than
this; and on the twenty-first of June you can see the sun even at
midnight from the top of the Ward Hill yonder. You'll belong to one
of the ships here, no doubt, sir?"

"Yes, that barque out there with the tall masts."

"Ay, she came in today. That will be the Lydia, I'm thinking, and
you will be Captain Gordon? Bailie Duke was telling me you were in
the port. And when do you sail?"

"Tomorrow," said the captain. "We're bound for Brazil; but I was
wanting to see some people tonight. Pilot Ericson asked me to smoke
a pipe with him. Then I have to see Grace Drever, to--"

"Grace Drever!" exclaimed the dominie, evidently wondering what the
sailor could want to see his mother for.

"Yes," continued Captain Gordon. "My ship's overrun with mice, and
I was directed to Grace Drever, who, I am told, deals in all the
charms and cantrips a sailor can require."