e raised himself to his full height, as he strode towards the gateway
where the spar lay. Then, stooping down, he lifted one end and rested
it upon his shoulder, after which he kept on hitching it up and getting
farther under till he had reached the middle, when he grasped it with
both hands firmly, took a step back, and the far end rose slowly from
the ground, the spar swaying in equilibrium slowly up and down as the
great fellow stood firm till it was at rest, and perfectly horizontal,
when he strode slowly and steadily toward the gate and went through into
the yard.

"There, Maxy, talk about a Samson!" cried Kenneth; "what do you think of
that?"

"I'd give something to be as strong," said Max, as he ran into the
courtyard, followed by Kenneth, the two boys applauding loudly as Tavish
gave himself a jerk, leaped aside, and the spar fell with a clang which
echoed from the ruined walls.

"She's chust a wee pit heavy, Maister Ken," said Tavish, passing his arm
across his brow, "and she wadna like to carry ta pit o' wood to
Falkirk."

"Ta Chief--ta Chief!" shouted Scoodrach, coming running in through the
gate.

"What! my father?" cried Kenneth, flushing up. "I say, Maxy, what will
he say? Where is he, Scoody?"

"Chust here on ta pony," whispered the lad, with his eyes wide; and he
looked round for a way to escape, as if he had a pricking of conscience
as to what had been going on.

"Take the pony and rub him down. I've ridden hard. Where's Mr
Kenneth?" came from outside.

The voice sounded very harsh and stern, so much so that Kenneth shrank
from meeting him, but it was only for a moment.

"I'm here, father," he cried, and he went out, followed closely by
Max,--who felt that he had no business to go, but that if he stayed
back, it would be like leaving his friend in the lurch.

"Oh, there you are--both of you," said The Mackhai sternly; and Max
noted that he was deadly pale, while the veins in his temples were
swollen, and looked like a network right round to the front of his brow.

"Yes, father, here we are--both of us," said Kenneth, unconsciously
repeating his father's form of expression.

"Then perhaps, sir, you will explain to me what is the meaning of that
piece of tomfoolery?"

The Mackhai was evidently greatly agitated, and fighting down his anger,
as he spoke in a cold, cutting tone, and pointed upward to the ruined
battlements.

Kenneth and Max had both forgotten it till they glanced up,