s view halloo would awaken the dead," they gave a howl that
nearly brought down the ham from the rafters as they banged them
down on the hearth-stones. Jean clapped her hands over her ears
and ran for the mop, and in no time at all the puddles had
disappeared and the boys were drinking tea by the fire.

Of course, Alan had no shoes to put on because his were soaking
wet, and as it was now late in the afternoon it began to be a
question how he should get back to the castle. It was still cold
for going barefoot, and he was not used to it besides, and his
clothes certainly would not be fit to put on for a long time.
They held a consultation. Alan thought he could go without shoes.

"You'll do nothing of the kind," said Jean firmly. "What sickness
was it you had, anyway?"

"Measles," said Alan, looking ashamed of it.

"Measles!" shouted Sandy. "That's naught but a baby disease. My
little sister had that. Sal, but I've had worse things the matter
with me! I've had the fever, and once I cut my toe with the axe!"

"Hold your tongue, Sandy," said Jean, "and dinna boast! If Alan's
had measles he can't go back to the castle barefoot; so you must
just be stepping yourself, and stop by at the castle to tell
Eppie McLean that Alan will bide here till his things are dry."

Sandy rose reluctantly and set down his empty mug.

"Well, then, if I must, I must," he said, and started off down the
hill whistling.

V. EVENING IN THE WEE BIT HOOSIE

When he was out of sight, Jean brought in the washing and then it
was time to get supper. Alan helped set the table and kept the
fire bright under the pot, while Jock fed the hens and brought in
the eggs; and when the Shepherd and Tam returned from the hills,
you can imagine how surprised they were to find three children
waiting for them instead of two. At supper the Shepherd had to be
told all the adventures of the day and how it happened that Alan
was wearing the kilts, and by the time it was over you would have
thought they had known each other all their lives. While Jean
cleared away the dishes, the Shepherd drew his chair to the fire
and beckoned Alan to him.

"Come here, laddie," he said, "and give us a look at your
plaidie. It's been lying there in the kist, and I've not seen a
sight of it since I was a lad. It's the Campbell plaid, ye ken,
and I mind once when I was a lad I was on my way home from the
kirk and a hare crossed my path. It's ill luck for a hare to
cross y