Aasta walked towards him slowly, bending down
now and again as though she were gathering shellfish. Seeing that it was
only, as he supposed, some harmless fisherwoman, Harald took courage and
waited.
"You are abroad betimes, my young master," said she, speaking in the
Norse. "And methinks you have work that ill befits such white hands and
comely apparel as yours. Let me, I pray you, help you to launch your boat."
"Your words, fair damsel," said the youth as he regarded her in
wondering surprise, "surely betoken that you are not of the people of
this land."
"And yours, my master, that you are equally foreign to these shores. But
tell me, sir, where go you in your boat?"
"I go hence to Islay," said he, "if so be I may without help adventure
so far."
"Methinks," said Aasta, "that it were at least wise in you to have the
help of a pair of oars."
"There is a pair lying at the foot of the cliff there," said the youth,
pointing up the beach.
"Go, then, and bring them," said she, "while I launch your boat; and it
may be that, if you are bound for Islay, I will, if it so please you,
accompany you."
"Sweet damsel," said he, "surely some strange good fortune hath sent you
to my aid!" and at that he ran up the beach to the place where the
fishermen had left their oars.
As he went the cry of a peewit rose in the morning air
"Pee-wit, pee-weet-weet!"
In a few moments Allan Redmain was at Aasta's side.
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