"Halcro Ericson, you were arrested on Saturday last on suspicion of being the murderer of Colin Lothian--a poor, worthy man, known and respected in the Mainland for many, many years. At the time of your arrest on board the Clasper, the evidence against you was circumstantially complete, and appeared to be conclusive. Further evidence of an important nature, however, has since been gathered by Mr. Drever here, and it has brought new light upon the matter. You are not, I am happy to say, to be formally charged with the murder of Lothian; but, in the absence of the proper official--the procurator fiscal--it is necessary that I, as the senior bailie of Stromness, should make some inquiry into this case, you see. You will presently be examined with other witnesses, and you will have an opportunity of, I hope, clearing yourself of whatever suspicion is still attached to you. Sit down again, Halcro." Concluding this speech, Mr. Duke rang a little hand bell that was on the table, and Macfarlane appeared at one of the doors. "Just send in Jack Paterson and Steenie Barrie," he said; and presently the two fishermen were ushered in. Paterson, entering first, touched his forelock to the magistrate, and similarly saluted Lieutenant Fox. "Jack, my man," said Mr. Duke, "just let us know what way ye found auld Colin's body." Paterson stepped up to the table, twirling his sou'wester round and round by the brim between his two big hands. "Weel, ye see, Mr. Duke," began Jack falteringly, "I was lying in my bed on Friday night when young Halcro Ericson knocked at the door and telt me that Thora Kinlay was out in the storm and couldna be found. So I cam' along to Stromness--" "Ay, but dinna mind that part o' the story, Jack," interrupted Mr. Duke; "just begin where Steenie and you heard the dog." "Yes, Mr. Duke," said Paterson, dropping his sou'wester in his nervousness. And then he repeated what Captain Flett had already told me. "Did you both go into the cottage?" asked the bailie. "No," said Jack, "Steenie ran away down to the town to tell the doctor. I went into Mary's mysel'. But Mary was away at Kirkwall, ye ken. I saw that some person had been there, however; for the peats were still hot, and there was some roasted potatoes on the table, forbye a cloth that had blood on it." "And you waited about there until Dr. Linklater came?" "Yes, Mr. Duke." "Now do you recognize this as the gun you found?" Mr. Duke asked, touching my fowling piece. "Ay, that's just it," replied Jack. Bailie Thomson then asked: "Have you ever seen the gun before, Paterson?" "No," said Jack. "What! have you never seen Ericson with it?" "Never," said Paterson, "though they tell me it is Halcro's gun." "Are you sure that Ericson had not the gun with him when he knocked you up on Friday night?" persisted Mr. Thomson. "Yes, quite sure," said Jack. "And where did Ericson go to after he left you?" questioned Mr. Thomson.