The Pilots of Pomona: A Story of the Orkney Islands

ka, hung outside of his best portki, or loose, colored trousers. His legs were wound round with many bands of colored cloth, called onontchi, and on his feet he wore bachmaki, or shoes. When he gr

ikon, the sacred picture of the Virgin and Child, which hung on the wall with a tiny lamp lighted before it. The little boy would not disturb his grandmother while she was saying her Saturday evening prayer, but he hoped she would not be long. Perhaps sh

aid, putting his hands on either side of her fac

, pretending to look cross. "Why

must not play in the dirt!" replied the litt

u like to

'S WAR WIT

the

t I should!" crie

randmoth

iteling. Now Whiteling had struck up a great friendship with Isegrim, the Wolf, and o

-night; so do you keep no watch, but just lie as still as possible, and don't wake up the whole family

ou like," replied Whiteli

shall be there," said Isegri

d greeted Whiteling heartily, saying, "I ga

ied Whiteling; "you have

y begun his meal when the swine broke out in fearful squealings and gruntings. Whiteling, at the house-door, no

so?" they said. "We must go o

ened to the pigpen. Peeping in, they saw the Wolf and set upon him with clubs

throat, "Aha!" he cried, "I have caught you now. You pledged me your word not to bark, and y

er Isegrim; forgive me just this once; I'll never do it again; come

me another such tr

r again!" sa

you may go free this once; but next

found the Wolf, fell upon him, and beat him half-dead. The unlucky visitor barely escaped with his life, and full of wrath, he hid behind the hedge and waited till the household were asleep. Then, seeing Whiteling before the hou

d true that I have brought you into a terrible pickle, but

days from now you must meet me in battle. I will summon my forces, and do you summon yours-that is, if yo

teling, "come what may, I

g the Wild Boar he said to him, "Will you be on my side? There

ld Boar, "indeed I w

, told him the whole matter, and begged him to be

cke assured him that he might certainly count upon his help-how coul

st spy out Whiteling and learn what forces he has. Th

anding in the lane looked over the hedge. "Are you

a tone of deepest dejection; "but tell

ied Isegrim; "yonder, unde

r side of the farm-yard. There the Tomcat met him and said, "Why,

malkin, you don't know where the sho

talking about?" ask

"to-morrow I have to fight Isegrim;

d by you to the death. Just you go to frie

ing sought friend Quacker a

eave a friend in the lurch? Go to friend Ganner, the Gande

d begged for his help. "Of course, why should I not be ready to help? Ar

ing, "I think we a

ch grew upon the ground, and bade Reinecke climb into the tree, saying, "You must be our sentinel, Master. Keep watch when Whiteling appears w

eady, Grimalkin" (for Grimalkin held his tail upright, by way of musket); "and you, Ganner, must hiss your very best. Quack

ner bringing up the rear. Quacker drummed his prettiest-"Quack-quack, quack-quack, quack-quack!" The Gander

y he cried to Isegrim, "Cousin, cousin, here c

u say?" asked I

a captain," replied Reinecke. "The soldier is lo

he Wild Boar from under the moss. "It's all

to rally his troops; "just bear yourselves bravely;

on it, bit into it with his sharp teeth. The Wild Boar sprang up in terror and took wildly to flight, while Grimalkin, no less terrified, scrambled frantically up the tree into the very face of Master Petz.

ile the Drake kept drumming, "Quack-quack, quack-quack, quack-quack," and Ganner hissed with all his might. Thus was Is

her and began to count their honorable scars. Said Master Petz, "More d

e," said the Boar. "He cu

we are no worse off, for if they had been able to fire

id the little boy. "I think

replied the grandmother. "That was