n approaching enemy, were fairly well furnished with
ammunition.

"How about provisions?" cried Kenneth, as an idea suddenly struck him.

"Ou, there's plenty, Master Kenneth," said the butler grimly, as he
rather enjoyed what was going on. "There's half the deer you shot,
beside the mutton, and plenty of kippered saumon."

"Oh ay; and if they try to starve us," cried Tavish, "we can catch fush
from the rock at high water ivery day."

The preparations went merrily on, every one working in the old Highland
spirit, and seeming indued with the idea that it was a duty to defend
the home of the Chief of the Clan Mackhai against the enemy that was
expected--an enemy that must be baffled at all hazards.

Old Tonal' was the most excited of all, rushing here and there, and
getting in everybody's way. One minute he was hurrying off to fetch his
pipes, and seemed ready to blow. Then he was off again to put them
away, to come forth again and go round the castle as far as was possible
on the battlements, to see whether there was a weak spot where the foe
might get in.

He had completed one of these examinations, and then came to where
Kenneth was giving orders.

"Whusht, laddie!" he whispered confidentially.

"Hullo, Tonal', you?"

"Ay! Whusht!"

"Ready to fight, Tonal'?"

"Ay, she'll fecht! she'll fecht for ta auld hame! But whusht, laddie!"

"Eh?" cried Kenneth; "what is it?"

"Stanes, laddie, stanes."

"Stanes! what about 'em?"

"Gin ye--but whusht!--gin ye had aboot sax hundert stanes a' retty on ta
toor, she could ding them a' doon on ta caterans' heads."

"Ah, but we might break their heads, Tonal'. No, no; something softer
than that. We'll have water."

"Watter? Watter, laddie?" cried the old piper contemptuously. "D'ye
want to wash ta enemies o' ta hoose? Stanes,--gran' stanes,--and she'll
ding them doon."

"No, no, Tonal'; that will not do."

The old man stood staring in wonder and disgust as Kenneth hurried away;
but directly after he caught sight of Max, and, raising his hand and
crooking one finger, he morally took the lad into custody as he
approached him slowly.

"He will na hearken aboot ta stanes, laddie," whispered the old man
mysteriously; "but sneeshing, laddie, sneeshing?"

"He's along with Scoodrach," said Max, pointing toward the dog. "There
he goes yonder."

"Na, na, sneeshing--chust a wee pinch."

"Oh no, I have no snuff," said Max.

"Nae sneeshing!" muttered the old