n his hand. Presently he became
aware how hot it was getting, and when he reached a small clump of trees
near a hay-field he thought he would sit down and rest a while. He had
been walking about an hour by this time. He thought he never recollected
such a warm day. Arthur began to feel very sleepy. He rubbed his eyes to
keep himself awake, but his head nodded more and more, and before he was
well aware of it he was fast asleep, lying huddled together on the bank
on which he had sat down.

Arthur must have been asleep nearly an hour, when he awoke with a sudden
start. The sun was high up in the heavens, and he judged it to be nearly
midday. He got upon his feet hurriedly and caught up his basket. It felt
lighter, he thought, and hastily lifting the wicker lid he found that
it was empty. The little Dorking hen was gone!

[Illustration]

Astonishment was the first feeling in Arthur's mind, then perplexity and
mortification. What would his mother think of his carelessness and
unbusinesslike qualities. It seemed he could not be trusted to execute
this simplest message. What was he to do? He searched all the ground in
the immediate neighbourhood in the hope of discovering the little hen
hidden behind some bush or clump of ferns. But she was nowhere to be
seen, and he was in sore perplexity and chagrin.

Then he picked up his empty basket, and continued on his way. There was
nothing for it but to take the cheese and the pot of jelly to Mrs.
Stewart, explain matters to her, and return another day with another
hen, if his mother so decided, as it was probable she would. He walked
on with a pretty downcast heart.

He was now ascending a hill, and when he reached the top an unexpected
sight met his eyes. A crowd of people were gathered in the plain below.
They made a large circle, and it was evident that the attention of
everybody forming the circle was concentrated on what was going on
within it. Flags were flying, and the strains of a military band floated
up to Arthur, where he stood on the top of the hill. On the outskirts of
the crowd a number of carriages and other vehicles were standing, filled
with ladies and gentlemen.

Then Arthur recollected that this was the day of the Highland gathering
of the county. A dance was going on as he approached, and four tall and
stalwart Highlanders in complete national costumes, bonneted and kilted,
were leaping and wheeling, cracking their fingers and uttering shrill
cries as they