an did not wait for an
answer.

"Because, it is of no use here. If it is ours, we'll draw the rails up
to the high field, and get them out of the way before Allister comes
home. If it belongs to Angus Dhu, we'll--we'll throw the rails into the
creek."

"There's no hurry about it, is there?" said a voice behind him; and Dan,
jumping down, turned about, and with more shamefacedness than Shenac
would have believed possible, met the offered hand of Angus Dhu.

"I heard you had come back again, Dan, lad; and I thought you would not
let the grass grow under your feet.--Are you for putting my good rails
in the creek, Hamish, man?"

Hamish was laughing too much at Dan's encounter to be able to answer at
once. Shenac was laughing too; but she was nearly as shamefaced as Dan,
remembering her own encounter on the same ground.

"If it is Allister you're thinking about, he's not here yet, and you
need not be in a hurry. And as to whether the rails are yours or mine,
when the goods are bought and paid for there need be no words about the
string that ties them. But for all that, Dan, lad, I have something to
say to your mother yet, and you may as well let them be where they are a
while.--Are you for sending my good rails down the creek, too?" he added
suddenly, turning to Shenac.

"It was Dan's plan, not mine," said Shenac. "Though once I would have
liked to do it," she added candidly.

"No, Shenac," said Hamish; "you wanted to burn it. Don't you mind?"

"O Hamish!" exclaimed Shenac.

Angus Dhu smiled.

"That would be a pity. They are good rails--the very best. And if they
were put up too soon, they can be taken down again. You have heard from
your brother again?"

"No; not since about the time of your letter," said Hamish. "We are
thinking he may be on the way."

For an instant an eager look crossed the face of the old man, but he
shook his head.

"No. With gold comes the love of it. He will stay where he is a while
yet."

"You don't know our Allister," exclaimed Shenac hotly.

But Hamish laid his hand on hers.

"Whisht. He's thinking of Evan," he said softly.

"He'll not be here this while yet," continued Angus Dhu, not heeding the
interruption. "You'll have the summer before you, I'm thinking; and the
question is, whether you'll take down the fence just now, while the
creek is full," he added, smiling significantly at Dan, "or whether
you'll let things be as they are till you have more help. I