ground
about was all a-lapper with blood.

"A worrying dog has done this!" I said.

But Maisie Lennox came up, and as she caught sight of the carcase her
face fell. She shook her head mighty seriously.

"Two-footed dogs," she said. "See here!" She lifted a piece of paper on
which a bloody knife had been wiped. And she showed me, very wisely, how
the best parts had been cut away by some one that had skill in
dismemberment.

"'Tis Jock Marshall's band," she said; "an ill lot, but they shall not
get off with this!"

And she went forward eagerly, keeping on the broad trail through the
grass. We had not gone a hundred yards when we came upon another sheep
in like case, and then by the ford of the Black Water we found yet
another. I asked Maisie Lennox if we should not go home and lodge
information.

"They'll get ower far away," was all she said.

"But you are not feared of them?" I asked, marvelling at the lassie. For
even our Sandy that counted himself so bold, and could lift a bullock
slung in a sheet with his teeth, would have thought twice before
following up Jock Marshall and his band for the sake of an orra sheep or
two.

But Maisie Lennox only turned to me in a curious way, in which there
seemed mingled something of contempt.

"Feared!" she said. "What for should I be feared? The sheep are my
faither's; but gang you back gin ye be feared."

So for very shame I answered that I was feared none--which was a great
lie, for I had given a hundred pounds (Scots) to have been able to turn
back with some credit. But we went along the broad trail boldly enough,
and Gay Garland trotted loose-foot after us, sometimes stopping to crop
the herbs by the way, and anon coming dancing to find us. At which I was
glad, for it was at least some company besides the lassie.

Soon we came to a link of the path by the water-side, at a place that is
called the Tinklers' Loup, where these sorners and limmers were mostly
wont to congregate. There was blue smoke rising behind the knowe, and
Maisie Lennox took a straight path over the heather toward it. I
wondered to see the lass. She seemed indeed not to know fear.

"They are my faither's ain sheep," she said, as though that were
sufficient explanation.

So to the top we came, and looked down. There was a whole camp beneath
us. Dirty low reeky tans were set here and there amid a swarm of bairns
and dogs. The children were running naked as they were born, and the
dogs turning th