been busily
occupied, had not oppressed him. He paced quickly to and fro, whistling
to himself, and determined not to yield to the effects of his position.
He wondered how far his men were on their way by this time. Was old
Geordie riding at their head? Suppose they were attacked, how would
they come out of it? He wondered, too, if Tam was--

What was that?

A low groan from one corner of the terrace, and the clanking of a chain!
Singleton halted dead, and for a moment his heart was in his mouth.
Then he broke into a laugh.

"Jupiter again! That's the second time he has played ghost to-night!
Well, old doggie, you've woke up, have you, and you're going to keep me
company, eh?"

And then, as he resumed his march, he talked in a low voice to the dog,
who rose quietly from his corner, and with soft, stealthy tread
proceeded to accompany his master to and fro along the terrace.

Singleton was ashamed of himself for being as startled as he had been at
this incident.

"A pretty hero I shall make at this rate," said he; "if this is the
worst alarm I am to have to-night I shall get off easily, eh?"

Jupiter solemnly wagged his tail, and evidently considering he had done
enough in accompanying his master some twenty turns up and down, retired
quietly to his old corner, and once again composed himself to slumber.

Singleton walked on, halting now and then to make a careful scrutiny all
round, and continuing to whistle softly to himself all the time.

Somehow his mind continually found itself reverting to Geordie's story.
It was an old wife's tale, of course, but a queer one too. And this was
the very terrace on which the old warrior used to walk, and that little
turret-chamber there was his room! Ah! strange how the reflection of
the moon should make it appear as if there were a light in the room! If
he were not certain no light was there, he could have vowed that was
one. Bah! he wished Geordie had kept his story to himself, it made him
feel quite dismal.

Hark! A footstep!

He was certain he heard one, close at his side too. He stood still and
listened. Everything was silent. He moved on again. There! he heard
it distinctly! almost in step with his own. He looked up and down,
everywhere; and then Geordie's words rushed back on his memory, "If ever
again a coward should be laird of Singleton, that old man--"

Here he stepped forward, and again suddenly halted. The footstep that
time was as distinct