began tae talk tae the stranger as if he'd kenned him a' his
days.

"Put your knife in your pocket, Corporal," says he. "Your fears have
turned your brain."

"Blood an' wounds!" says the other. "He'd ha' turned my brain tae some
purpose wi' that muckle stick o' his if I hadna drawn my snickersnee.
You shouldna keep siccan an auld savage on your premises."

The maister he frooned and looked black at him, as though he didna
relish advice comin' frae such a source. Then turnin' tae me--"You won't
be wanted after to-day, Israel," he says; "you have been a guid servant,
and I ha' naething tae complain of wi' ye, but circumstances have arisen
which will cause me tae change my arrangements."

"Vera guid, sir," says I.

"You can go this evening," says he, "and you shall have an extra month's
pay tae mak up t'ye for this short notice."

Wi' that he went intae the hoose, followed by the man that he ca'ed the
corporal, and frae that day tae this I have never clapped een either on
the ane or the ither. My money was sent oot tae me in an envelope,
and havin' said a few pairtin' words tae the cook and the wench wi'
reference tae the wrath tae come and the treasure that is richer than
rubies, I shook the dust o' Cloomber frae my feet for ever.

Maister Fothergill West says I maunna express an opeenion as tae what
cam aboot afterwards, but maun confine mysel' tae what I saw mysel'. Nae
doubt he has his reasons for this--and far be it frae me tae hint that
they are no' guid anes--but I maun say this, that what happened didna
surprise me. It was just as I expeckit, and so I said tae Maister Donald
McSnaw.

I've tauld ye a' aboot it noo, and I havena a word tae add or tae
withdraw. I'm muckle obleeged tae Maister Mathew Clairk for puttin'
it a' doon in writin' for me, and if there's ony would wish tae speer
onything mair o' me I'm well kenned and respeckit in Ecclefechan, and
Maister McNeil, the factor o' Wigtown, can aye tell where I am tae be
foond.

(1) The old rascal was well paid for his trouble, so he need not have
made such a favour of it.--J.F.W.

CHAPTER IX. NARRATIVE OF JOHN EASTERLING, F.R.C.P.EDIN.

Having given the statement of Israel Stakes _in extenso_, I shall append
a short memorandum from Dr. Easterling, now practising at Stranraer.
It is true that the doctor was only once within the walls of Cloomber
during its tenancy by General Heatherstone, but there were some
circumstances connected with this v