Chapter I: Front Matter

THE MAID OF SKER.

THE MAID OF SKER.

BY

R. D. BLACKMORE,

AUTHOR OF
'LORNA DOONE,' 'CLARA VAUGHAN,' AND 'CRADOCK NOWELL.'

᾽Εῥῥε, θεοῑσίν τ᾽ ἐχθρἐ, κἀι ἀνθρωποισιν ἅπιστε,
ψυχρῳ ὃς ἐν κὁλπῲ ποἱκίλον ἐιχες ὅφιν.]

NEW EDITION,
WITH A FRONTISPIECE.

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MDCCCXCIII

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. FISHERMAN DAVY A FISH OUT OF WATER, 1

II. HUNGER DRIVES HIM A-FISHING, 3

III. THE FISH ARE AS HUNGRY AS HE IS, 7

IV. HE LANDS AN UNEXPECTED FISH, 12

V. A LITTLE ORPHAN MERMAID, 15

VI. FINDS A HOME OF SOME SORT, 21

VII. BOAT _VERSUS_ BARDIE, 27

VIII. CHILDREN WILL BE CHILDREN, 32

IX. SANDHILLS TURNED TO SAND-HOLES, 38

X. UNDER THE ROCK, 44

XI. A WRECKER WRECKED, 49

XII. HOW TO SELL FISH, 57

XIII. THE CORONER AND THE CORONET, 64

XIV. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EVIDENCE, 70

XV. A VERDICT ON THE JURY, 76

XVI. TRUTH LIES SOMETIMES IN A WELL, 81

XVII. FOR A LITTLE CHANGE OF AIR, 89

XVIII. PUBLIC APPROBATION, 97

XIX. A CRAFT BEYOND THE LAW, 106

XX. CONFIDENTIAL INTERCOURSE, 112

XXI. CROSS-EXAMINATION, 119

XXII. ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT, 125

XXIII. INTO GOOD SOCIETY, 131

XXIV. SOUND INVESTMENTS, 137

XXV. A LONG GOOD-BYE, 145

XXVI. BRAUNTON BURROWS, 151

XXVII. A FINE SPECTACLE, 158

XXVIII. SOMETHING ABOUT HIM, 164

XXIX. A VISIT TO A PARSON, 171

XXX. ON DUTY, 182

XXXI. TWO LOVERS, 189

XXXII. AMONG THE SAVAGES, 194

XXXIII. IN A STATE OF NATURE, 203

XXXIV. WAITING AND LEARNING, 212

XXXV. THE POLITE FERRYMAN, 220

XXXVI. UNDER FAIRER AUSPICES, 227

XXXVII. TWO POOR CHILDREN, 234

XXXVIII. A FINE OLD GENTLEMAN, 241

XXXIX. NOTICE TO QUIT, 250

XL. FORCIBLE EJECTMENT, 257

XLI. THE RIGHT MAN IN THE RIGHT PLACE, 267

XLII. THE LITTLE MAID AND THE MIDSHIPMAN, 276

XLIII. A FINE PRICE FOR BARDIE, 283

XLIV. PROVIDES FOR EDUCATION, 292

XLV. INTRODUCES A REAL HERO, 298

XLVI. AFTER SEVEN YEARS, 305

XLVII. MISCHIEF IN A HOUSEHOLD, 312

XLVIII. A BREATHLESS DISINTERMENT, 320

XLIX. ONE WHO HAS INTERRED HIMSELF, 327

L. A BRAVE MAN RUNS AWAY, 334

LI. TRIPLE EDUCATION, 341

LII. GREAT MARCH OF INTELLECT, 347

LIII. BEATING UP FOR THE NAVY, 356

LIV. TAMING OF THE SAVAGES, 368

LV. UPON FOREIGN SERVICE, 374

LVI. EXILES OF SOCIETY, 380

LVII. MANY WEAK MOMENTS, 387

LVIII. MORE HASTE, LESS SPEED, 398

LIX. IN A ROCKY BOWER, 403

LX. NELSON AND THE NILE, 411

LXI. A SAVAGE DEED, 415

LXII. A RASH YOUNG CAPTAIN, 421

LXIII. POLLY AT HOME, 430

LXIV. SUSAN QUITE ACQUITS HERSELF, 438

LXV. SO DOES POOR OLD DAVY, 447

LXVI. THE MAID AT LAST IS "DENTIFIED," 453

LXVII. DOG EATS DOG, 458

LXVIII. THE OLD PITCHER AT THE WELL AGAIN, 465

THE MAID OF SKER.