"There's few folk ken Ragon Torr as I do, mother.

He is better at heart than thou wad think; indeed he is!" "If better were within, better wad come out, John.

He's been drunk or dovering i' the chimney-corner these past three weeks.

Hech! but he'd do weel i' Fool's Land, where they get half a crown a day for sleeping." "There's nane can hunt a seal or spear a whale like Ragon; thou saw him theesel', mother, among the last school i' Stromness Bay." "I saw a raving, ranting heathen, wi' the bonnie blue bay a sea o' blood around him, an' he shouting an' slaying like an old pagan sea-king.

Decent, God-fearing fisher-folk do their needful wark ither gate than yon.