"Aw, you wouldn't think it's true, would ye now?" "And what's that?" with a "glime" at Danny. "Why, that the lek o' yander is tackin' round the gels." "Do ye raely mane it?" "Yes, though, and sniffin' and snuffin' abaft of them astonishin'." "Aw, well, well, well." Not a sign from Danny. "Yes, yes, the craythur's doin' somethin' in the spoony line," said Kisseck. "Him as hasn't got the hayseed out of his hair yet." "And who's the lady, Danny?" asked Christian, with a smile. Danny was silent. "Why, who else but that gel of Kinvig's, Mona Cregeen," said Kisseck. Christian dropped his herring. "Aw, well," said Tommy Tear, "d'ye mane that gal on the brew with the widda, and the wee craythur?" "Yes, the little skite and the ould sukee, the mawther," said Kisseck. Davy Cain pretended to come to Danny's relief. "And a raal good gel, anyhow, Danny," he said in a patronizing way. "Amazin' thick they are. Oh, ay, Danny got to the lee of her--takes a cup of tay up there, and the like of that." "Aw, well, it isn't raisonable but the lad should be coortin' some gel now," said Davy. "What's that?" shouted Kisseck, dropping the banter rather suddenly. "What, and not a farthin' at him? And owin' me a fortune for the bringin' up?" "No matter, Bill, and don't ride a man down like a maintack. One of these fine mornings Danny will be payin' his debt to you with the foretopsail." "And look at him there," said Tommy Tear, reaching round Davy Cain to prod Danny in the ribs--"look at him pretendin' he never knows nothin'." But the big tears were near to toppling out of Danny's eyes. He got up, and leaving his unfinished breakfast, began to climb the hatchway. "Aw, now, look at that," cried Tommy Tear, with affected solemnity. Davy Cain followed Danny, put an arm round his waist, and tried to draw him back. "Don't mind the loblolly-boys, Danny veg," said Davy coaxingly. Danny pushed him away with an angry word. "What's that he said?" asked Kisseck. "Nothin'; he only cussed a bit," said Davy. Christian got up too. "I'll tell you what it is, mates," he said, "there's not a man among you. You're a lot of skulking cowards." And Christian jumped on deck. "What's agate of the young masther at all, at all?" Then followed some talk of the herring _Meailley_ (harvest home) which was to be celebrated that night at the "Jolly Herrings." When the boats ran into Peel harbor, of course Tommy-Bill-beg was on the quay, shouting at this man and that. As each boat got into its moorings the men set off to their owner's house for a final squaring up of the season's accounts. Kerruish and his men, with Christian, walked up to Balladhoo. Danny was sent home by his uncle. The men laughed, but the lad was accustomed to be ignored in these reckonings. His share never yet reached him. The fishermen's wives had come down on this occasion, and they went off with their husbands--Bridget, Kisseck's wife, being among them.