two ends out.

"Do you draw," he said, holding it out to Fergus. "The longest straw
goes to Hiniltie, and shortest with us."

The man drew.

"I have the longest," he said, "and perhaps it were best that it should
be so, for I know the way thoroughly, having often been over the hills
in search of missing cattle."

"You will both remain here, till we come. Now, what food have you?"

"We bought a supply in Parton, yesterday evening, and have enough for a
week; for we thought that some might be needed by the whole party, on
our way; and moreover, we care not to go down often to the town, as we
might attract attention."

"That is good. Keep enough for tomorrow, for yourselves; I will take
the rest."

"There is no need for that. We can get what we want from the house and,
tomorrow evening, one of us will go down into Parton again."

"Or better still," Oswald said, "give the money to the hind here. I
suppose there is one."

"Yes; he sleeps in the house."

"Give him money, then, and a present for himself, and get him to fetch
it for you. Some of the Bairds may remain there, and you may be sure
that every stranger will be strictly questioned. I want also the four
horse cloths, which please make into a bundle. Is your water skin
full?"

"We filled it this afternoon, thinking it possible that we might make a
hasty start tonight."

"How much does it hold?"

"About two gallons."

"It would have been better had it been four. However, we must manage
with it. Now, do you know of any ford across the river? for I certainly
could not swim across, with this load."

"There is one half a mile farther up. We were asking the hind about it,
the other day, thinking that it might be useful should we have to fly
suddenly. I will go down with you; and indeed, I shall be glad to go
the whole way with you, for the provisions and those blankets and the
skin will be no light weight; and, as I am going to Hiniltie, it will
cheer Armstrong if I could tell him that I saw his daughters."

"It would be a good plan, Fergus, though in truth the weight would be
no great burden; but certainly, Armstrong would be pleased to know that
you had seen his daughters."

A few minutes later they set out, forded the river breast high,
carrying the loads on their heads; and then, climbing the hill, made
their way to the shelter, whose exact position Oswald had marked, on
starting, by a huge boulder that stood on the crest of the hill, some
fifty fe