mus  —  let  me  grapple  thee  fast,  lest  thou  trijp,  old
Triptolemus  —  ha,  ha,  ha ! "

So  saying,  the  portly  though  weatherbeaten  hulk
of  the  Udaller  sailed  off  like  a  man-of-war  that  had
braved  a  hundred  gales,  having  his  guest  in  tow  like
a  recent  prize.  The  greater  part  of  the  revellers
followed  their  leader  with  loud  jubilee,  although
there  were  several  stanch  topers,  who,  taking  the
option  left  them  by  the  Udaller,  remained  behind
to  relieve  the  Jolly  Mariner  of  a  fresh  cargo,  amidst
many  a  pledge  to  the  health  of  their  absent  land-
lord, and  to  the  prosperity  of  his  roof-tree,  with
whatsoever  other  wishes  of  kindness  could  be  de-
vised, as  an  apology  for  another  pint-bumper  of
noble  punch.
The  rest  soon  thronged  the  dancing-room,  an
apartment  which  partook  of  the  simplicity  of  the
time  and  of  the  country.  Drawing-rooms  and  sa-
loons were  then  unknown  in  Scotland,  save  in  the
houses  of  the  nobility,  and  of  course  absolutely  so
in  Zetland ;  but  a  long,  low,  anomalous  store-room,
sometimes  used  for  the  depositation  of  merchandise,
sometimes  for  putting  aside  lumber,  and  a  thousand
other  purposes,  was  well  known  to  all  the  youth  of
Dunrossness,  and  of  many  a  district  besides,  as  the
scene  of  the  merry  dance,  which  was  sustained  with
so  much  glee  when  Magnus  Troil  gave  his  frequent
feasts.
