The Pilots of Pomona: A Story of the Orkney IslandsLeighton, Robert
General
The Pilots of Pomona: A Story of the Orkney Islands
Leighton, Robert
Orkney (Scotland) -- Fiction
Kinlay had gained the case. Jack Paterson was fined fifteen
shillings and costs, or a fortnight in Kirkwall jail. Abernethy had
paid the fine on the spot. Carver, therefore, was throughout
successful.
Not only had he gained in the assault case, but in the matter of
the piloting he was equally fortunate. He was permitted to carry on
his business in the St. Magnus, and notices were posted up
forthwith on the quays at Stromness to inform the inhabitants that
Carver Kinlay of Crua Breck, in the parish of Sandwick, was a duly
certified pilot of Pomona.
Chapter XXV. A Family Removal.
I was one evening walking over the heathery braes of Lyndardy, in
the direction of Stromness, with my sister Jessie. The soft breeze
from across the sea played with her brown hair, which was bound by
the silken snood usually worn by the Orkney girls. A scarlet bootie
shawl covered her shoulders. In her hand she carried a basket
filled with kitchen vegetables from the farm.
As we walked our attention was directed to a number of fishing
boats putting out to sea, and to the slow and mournful song of the
fishermen as they set out, with the creaking of their long oars
keeping time to the music of their voices. Then the red mainsails
were hoisted to catch the light breeze blowing over from the region
of the setting sun, and we stood and watched the boats.
But presently, as I looked further down the hillside where we were,
I saw the figure of a man leaning upon a low stone wall. He was
looking across to the wild headland of Hoy, where the red beetling
cliffs reflected the sunlight.
"Jessie," I said, "is that Captain Gordon standing down there?"
Jessie turned her eyes in the direction I pointed, and her cheeks
were flushed with the red light that fell upon them.
"Oh, Halcro!" she exclaimed, "I've forgotten to bring the butter.
We must go back to the farm."
"Never mind, Jessie; I'll run back for it," I said, though I would
have been glad to see the captain again.
She, however, made no objection, but let me go back to Lyndardy,
while she continued her way towards Stromness.
I had been gone something like a half hour, and as I was returning,
walking briskly over the heathery braes and skipping across the
rippling burns, down the hillside in front of me I saw Jessie
standing with Captain Gordon, and his arm was round her waist. I
stopped suddenly, wondering if I should proceed further and
interrupt them. And now I understood how it was that Jessie had
forgotten the butter, and how she had so calmly agreed to my going
back to the farm. I seemed also to understand how it was that
Captain Gordon had spoken so much about my sister during our drive
to Kirkwall. And with these explanations in my mind I took my way
homeward by a roundabout path along the cliffs, and so passed
unobserved, reaching Stromness just in time to see Jessie and the
captain parting at the end of the town.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account