A Stranger Came Ashore Read Online Free Page B

minded, either, that he had so little to say for himself. He was a foreigner, after all, they excused him; and he could hardly be expected to chatter in a tongue that was strange to him. Occasionally too, when it struck someone that there was a certain oddness in the intent way he listened and watched in other folks’ company, this was also put down to the fact that he was a stranger to the islands, and therefore curious about life there.
    There was one person in Black Ness, however, who was not too pleased to see him staying on with the Hendersons, and that was Elspeth’s young man, Nicol Anderson. This was just natural jealousy on his part, of course, Finn Learson being so handsome and Elspeth so young and bonny. But after all, as Peter took care to point out to Nicol, it was only until the spring work was finished; and once that was the case, there was no doubt Finn Learson would return to his own country.
    About a week before the start of the
haaf
season, however, Peter found himself thinking differently, for it was then that one of his boat’s crew fell sick. There was not a man in Black Ness to replace him, either; and so, after thinking all around the subject, Peter said to Finn Learson, “It’s like this, you see. It’s a boat called a ‘sixareen’we use at the
haaf
, because it takes six men to row it. Yet here I am now, one short of my crew; and even with strong young fellows like Nicol Anderson among them, a sixareen is a heavy craft to pull, And so I’m in trouble, unless – Unless, maybe,
you
would be willing to make up my crew for me.”
    Finn Learson shook his head at this. “The kind of deep-sea fishing I have learned,” said he, “is not likely to be the kind you practise.”
    â€œOch, we’ll soon take care of that!” Peter exclaimed. “We’ll teach you all you need to know. And just think of the money you could make at the
haaf
! Besides which, you would very likely enjoy it for its own sake, for it’s out there in the deep water where the big fish lie that you get the real fishing and the real feel of the sea!”
    â€œ
Out there in the deep water
…” Finn Learson repeated softly, his eyes beginning to gleam with the excitement that lit them when he was dancing. He was silent for a moment, with everyone waiting expectantly for his next word, then suddenly he decided. “I
would
enjoy that,” he told Peter. “To be out there in the deep water with the sea all around me again – that would be fine. I’ll go with you to the
haaf
!”
    So that was another matter settled, and the night before Peter and his crew left for the fishing station in the north of the islands, they all met for a celebration in the Hendersons’ house. Peter filled glasses for everyone to drink a toast, but before he could utter one word of this, Nicol Anderson said, “Hold on, Peter. What toast are you going to give?”
    Peter stared at him. “The usual one, of course,” he said. “The one we always drink before we go to the
haaf
.”
    â€œAye, I thought so,” Nicol answered. “But if that is the way of it, we cannot have a man in the boat who does not even know the meaning of the toast. And so, before Finn Learson comes with us, he must first guess the answer to a riddle.”
    Everyone began to smile at this, guessing riddles being afavourite game in Shetland. Nicol seemed to be in deadly earnest, however, which made the Hendersons realise that there was a bit of rivalry building up now between the two young men. Yet still, Peter realised, Nicol had every right to put out such a challenge. And so, even although he could see himself being short of a crew member at the very last moment, he had to allow it.
    â€œOn you go, then,” said he; and staring Finn Learson right in the eye, Nicol said, “Right – read me this riddle, Finn Learson.
What head is it that wears no