body's going to be
turned out if he doesn't want to be. I know all about the lease,
and that it's going to run out this fall, but any one who wants
to stay on the land and improve it is going to have the chance to
do it. My mother knows a lot about such things, and we're going
to collect the rents ourselves, and we think, maybe, when I'm of
age, there'll be some way by which people who really want to use
the land may own it instead of being obliged to rent. Mother says
they are beginning to do it in Ireland, and in England too in
some places.

"I've found out that people are more important than rabbits and
deer, and they are going to have first chance at the land of Glen
Cairn as long as I'm Laird." This was greeted with such a roar of
cheers that for a moment it was quite impossible for Alan to
proceed. He smiled bashfully at his mother and then held up his
hand for silence.

"I just want to say, too," he went on, biting his lips to keep
from laughing, "that after this there won't be any gamekeeper on
Glen Cairn. If the rabbits spoil your crops you're welcome to
catch them if you can! I've ranged these woods myself all summer,
and I have found out that gamekeepers are no safeguard against
poachers." A gasp of astonishment greeted this statement, and
Angus Niel was observed to turn ashy pale.

"In fact, I know that sometimes gamekeepers turn poachers
themselves and make money selling what they have killed," he went
on. Here Angus Niel, looking suddenly deflated, like a burst
balloon, began quietly to slink out of sight, and Alan, brimful
of mischief, raised his voice so it would be sure to reach him
and said, "I've seen it done myself, and if Angus Niel wants to
know any more about that gang of twenty blood-thirsty villains
which has scared the life out of him all summer, he can come to
me and I'll tell him. I'm the Chief of that gang, and there are
three others just like me, and that's all!" He winked rapturously
at the three other members of the Clan, who were gazing up at him
in a stupor of astonishment, and fired his last shot at the
fleeing Angus, while the audience, catching his meaning, burst
into howls of derisive laughter.

"Don't hurry, Angus," he called. "I want to tell you about your
boat and about the water witch that haunted you. I'm the water
witch too!" But Angus was already out of hearing and scuttling as
fast as his trembling legs could carry him to get out of sight,
as well. When the roars of