and the wild birds that Andrew brought home supplied him with many
a stolen banquet.

There was one ruling passion in Baudrons, and that was his desire
to gain possession of the noisy jackdaw which so often disturbed
him with its steady shining eyes as they looked down at him from
behind the wicker bars of the cage. I believe Baudrons anticipated
the death of Peter as the crowning achievement of his life; and had
he been consulted in the matter of the Lydia he might have shown
some reluctance to enter the community of mice before he had
compassed the jackdaw's death.

Grace was finally prevailed upon--much to the satisfaction of the
dominie--to give up her cat; and it was arranged that I should take
Baudrons out to the ship before school time on the following
morning.

I was preparing to leave with Jessie and Captain Gordon, when Mrs.
Drever called me to her near the fire.

"Come here, Halcro, laddie. Tak the peerie stone, see, and have a
care that ye dinna lose it;" and she handed to me the little black
stone.

Mr. Drever was standing beside her, and I looked to him to ask if I
should take possession of this much of the viking's treasure.

"Take it, take it, Halcro," he said. "There can be no harm in your
keeping it--at least until we find whether the authorities claim it
or not. I canna think that there would be any money value in it to