mony a day.
Rothes will be pleased with this day's work!' said the Cornet.

"It was growing dark by the time that we drew up from the loch and it
was ill getting a guide. No one of us had ever been in the country, and
there is no wilder in all the south, as I have cause to know. But we had
not got to any conclusion, when one came running with the news that he
saw a light. So we spurred on as briskly as we dared, not knowing but
that we might again hear the whistle of musket balls about our ears.

"It was the little farm of Esconquhan, and only old Sandy Gillespie and
his wife were at home--the lads no doubt being at the conventicle, or it
may be among those who had fought with us in the yard of the Caldons,
and now lay quiet enough down in the copsewood at the loch foot.

"Sandy Gillespie of Esconquhan was a shrewd old fox enough, and answered
all Douglas's questions with great apparent readiness.

"'Hae you a Bible?' asked the Colonel.

"'Aye,' said Sandy, 'but it's gye and stoury. Reek it doon, guid wife! I
misdoot I dinna read it as often as I should--aiblins like yoursel',
Colonel.'

"Very biddably, the wife reached it down out of the little black hole
over the mantelshelf, and the Colonel laughed.

"'It is indeed brave and dusty. Man, I see you are no' a right Whig. I
doubt that bit book disna get hard wark!'

"Douglas's refreshment had made him more easy to deal with.

"'Nevertheless,' he continued, 'fettle on your blue bonnet and put us on
the road to Bongill, at the loch-head. For there is a great Whigamore
there of the name of Macmillan and he will no' get aff so easy. I
warrant _his_ Bible is well-thumbed!'

"'I canna rin wi' ye on siccan a nicht, and deed the road's no' canny.
But you red-coats fear neither God nor deil!' said Sandy Gillespie
readily.

"'Out on you, gangrel. Gin ye canna rin ye shall ride. Pu' the auld
wretch up ahint ye,' said Douglas, ready to be angry as soon as he was
crossed, like all men in liquor.

"And so we went over the hillside very carefully--such a road as beast
was never set to gang on before.

"'Keep doon the swearin' as muckle ye can,' ordered Sergeant Murphy.
'Lord, Lord, but this is heart-breaking!'

"Sandy Gillespie, canny man, tried to dissuade him from going to Bongill
that night. Which only made Douglas the more determined, thinking there
was something or some-body that he might light on there, and so get
great credit to himself.

"'Gin the road be as