Page:The Celtic Review volume 3.djvu/196

Rh pale, poverty-stricken skeleton that it would be the direst necessity that would make them turn him out to act as their pilot. Finding, however, that there were no people near at hand, and knowing how dangerous it would be for them to venture inland, or present themselves amongst houses, they made up their minds to make the best of the subject before them. If the wretch could spin out the thread of his existence until they arrived at their destination that was all they cared for. For the sake of his personal safety they thought he would pilot them faithfully and to the best of his knowledge and skill. So to this anatomy it was proposed that he should accompany them as their guide to Heiskeir, with the promise of a share of the booty that would reward their expedition if he did his duty well. The reason why the poor fellow had been banished to this spot of loneliness was that he had typhus fever, from which he was now slowly recovering. With all the strength and earnestness he could summon to his aid he pleaded his sad case, and begged of them not to urge him to accompany them, as it would be the very death of him, the weather, too, being so intensely cold. ‘You will not die until we reach Heiskeir at any rate,’ said they; and with that they seized upon him and dragged him along with them into their boat. Anchors were up, sails were spread, and in a trice the galley was scudding away before the gale at a rapid rate. Niel, as the young man’s name was, was stationed in the bow, on the look-out, and—well admonished as to his duty—there he sat, an unwilling fixture, like any other figure-head—quite as hard too—his teeth discovering only too well with what reluctance his emaciated limbs embraced the uncongenial, cold wind. His body was somewhat idle, certainly, but not so his imagination—his mind; and we shall see, by and by, what the results of his lucubrations were. The galley was little more than half way across the channel when a very heavy and thick fall of snow came on. Niel was constantly urged to vigilance, and notwithstanding his familiarity with the neighbourhood wherein he was now making his way, he