vements of the bailiff's men,
as they now began to lift the spar on to their shoulders.

"Be quite ready for them when they come," cried Kenneth, after a hearty
laugh at the old family retainer.

"Oh ay," said Scood, "we'll pe retty;" and, with a queer look, he drew a
sgian-dhu from his belt.

"Ah, none of that, Scoody!" cried Kenneth. "Give me that knife."

"Nay; she wants it for ta togs when ta gate's knockit down."

"No, you don't. Here, Max, take away that knife."

"Nay, she will na give it up," growled Scoody menacingly; and his face
grew dark as Max seized his wrist and took the knife.

"Ye daurna do that if ta young chief wasna here," he said angrily.

"Yes, I dare," cried Max, turning away, and giving Kenneth the knife,
which he jerked over his shoulder into the courtyard.

At that moment the pipes struck up again, "The Campbells are coming,"
and old Tonal' recommenced his short march to and fro, for the bailiffs
gang, after shouldering the old spar, were in full march up the steep
slope towards the gateway, and as they approached they gave a triumphant
cheer.

"Now, once more," cried the bailiff: "where's Mr Mackhai?"

"What do you mean with your `once more'? You never asked that before."

"Never you mind about that, my lad; and you'll find yourself in prison
for this day's work. Where's Mr Mackhai?"

"Gone to Inverness, ugly," cried Kenneth derisively.

"Then you've got to give up this place to me quietly, under an--"

Bang!

"Who threw that potato?"

"I did," cried Max, laughing at the success of his aim, and his shot was
followed by a shower which disorganised the enemy so that they ducked
and dodged, and ended by dropping the old spar, from which all leaped,
so as to save their toes.

"Pick it up, you great fools," roared the bailiff angrily. "And you
look here," he cried, shaking the paper: "all the proper legal forms
have been gone through, and this is an eviction order at the suit of--
Hang them! how they can throw!" cried the man angrily, as a fresh
missile struck him on the cheek.

"Fecht, laddies, fecht!" yelled Tonal', stopping for a moment to shout,
and then blowing again with all his might.

"You'd better go and pull that old madman down," cried the bailiff.
"Now, once for all," he continued, shaking the paper, "will you
surrender?"

"No!" shouted Kenneth.

"No!" yelled Scoodrach; "she'll fecht till she ties. Come on!"

"All right," said the bailiff, turning to hi