or the inquirers were mostly
decent folk well on in years, whose lads had gone to the levy, and who
naturally desired to know wherefore their sons had been summoned.

In return he asked everywhere for news of any cavalcade which might
have passed that way, but neither from the country folk, nor yet from
hoof-marks upon the grassy banks, could he glean the least information
pertinent to the purpose of his quest.

Not till he came within a few miles of the town did he meet with man
or woman who could give him any material assistance. It was by the
Fords of Tongland that he first met with one Tib MacLellan, who with
much volubility and some sagacity retailed fresh fish to the burghers
of Kirkcudbright and the whole countryside, giving a day to each
district so long as the supply of her staple did not fail.

"Fair good day to ye, mistress!" said Sholto, taking off his bonnet to
the sonsy upstanding fishwife.

"And to you, bonny lad," replied the complimented dame, dropping a
courtesy, "may the corbie never cry at ye nor ill-faured pie juik at
your left elbow. May candle creesh never fa' on ye, red fire burn ye,
nor water scald ye."

Tib was reeling off her catalogue of blessings when Sholto cut her
short.

"Can you tell me, good lady," he asked, in his most insinuating tones,
"if there has been any vessel cleared from the port during these last
weeks?"

"'Deed, sir, that I should ken, for is no my ain sister marriet on
Jock Wabster, wha's cousin by marriage twice removed is the bailie
officer o' the port? So I can advise ye that there was a boat frae the
Isle o' Man wi' herrin's for the great houses, though never a fin o'
them like the halesome fish I carry here in my creel. Wad ye like to
see them, to buy a dozen for the bonny lass that's waiting for ye?
That were a present to recommend ye, indeed--far mair than your gaudy
flowers, fule ballads, and sic like trash!"

"You cannot remember any other ship of larger size than the Manx
fishing-boat?" continued Sholto.

"Weel, no to ca' cleared frae the port," Tib went on, "but there was a
pair o' uncanny-looking foreign ships that lay oot there by the
Manxman's Lake for eight days, and the nicht afore yestreen they gaed
oot with the tide. They were saying aboot the foreshore that they gaed
west to some other port to tak' on board the French monzie that cam'
to the Thrieve at the great tournaying! But I kenna what wad tak' him
awa' to the Fleet or the Ferry Toon o' C