wild bit to meet ony other body, so when I
cam up to him it was Tod Gabriel, the fox-hunter. So I says to him,
rather surprised like, "What are ye doing up amang the craws here,
without your hounds, man? are ye seeking the fox without the dogs?" So he
said, "Na, gudeman, but I wanted to see yoursell."

'"Ay," said I, "and ye'll be wanting eilding now, or something to pit
ower the winter?"

'"Na, na," quo' he, "it's no that I'm seeking; but ye tak an unco concern
in that Captain Brown that was staying wi' you, d'ye no?"

'"Troth do I, Gabriel," says I; "and what about him, lad?"

'Says he, "There's mair tak an interest in him than you, and some that I
am bound to obey; and it's no just on my ain will that I'm here to tell
you something about him that will no please you."

'"Faith, naething will please me," quo' I, "that's no pleasing to him."

'"And then," quo' he, "ye'll be ill-sorted to hear that he's like to be
in the prison at Portanferry, if he disna tak a' the better care o'
himsell, for there's been warrants out to tak him as soon as he comes
ower the water frae Allonby. And now, gudeman, an ever ye wish him weel,
ye maun ride down to Portanferry, and let nae grass grow at the nag's
heels; and if ye find him in confinement, ye maun stay beside him night
and day for a day or twa, for he'll want friends that hae baith heart and
hand; and if ye neglect this ye'll never rue but ance, for it will be for
a' your life."

'"But, safe us, man," quo' I, "how did ye learn a' this? it's an unco way
between this and Portanferry."

'"Never ye mind that," quo' he, "them that brought us the news rade night
and day, and ye maun be aff instantly if ye wad do ony gude; and sae I
have naething mair to tell ye." Sae he sat himsell doun and hirselled
doun into the glen, where it wad hae been ill following him wi' the
beast, and I cam back to Charlie's Hope to tell the gudewife, for I was
uncertain what to do. It wad look unco-like, I thought, just to be sent
out on a hunt-the-gowk errand wi' a landlouper like that. But, Lord! as
the gudewife set up her throat about it, and said what a shame it wad be
if ye was to come to ony wrang, an I could help ye; and then in cam your
letter that confirmed it. So I took to the kist, and out wi' the pickle
notes in case they should be needed, and a' the bairns ran to saddle
Dumple. By great luck I had taen the other beast to Edinbro', sae Dumple
was as fresh as a rose. Sae aff I set, and Wa