who had his pipes under his arm. "Don't you know the Gaelic?"

"I am only learning," said the young musician. "Will I take the dog,
sir?"

"March along, then, Phiobaire bhig!" Macleod said. "He will follow me,
if he will not follow you."

Little Piper turned aside into a large hall which had been transformed
into a sort of waiting-room; and here Macleod found himself in the
presence of a considerable number of children, half of them girls, half
of them boys, all dressed in tartan, and seated on the forms along the
walls. The children, who were half asleep at this time of the night,
woke up with sudden interest at sight of the beautiful collie; and at
the same moment Little Piper explained to the gentleman who was in
charge of these young ones that the dog had to be tied up somewhere, and
that a small adjoining room would answer that purpose. The proposal was
most courteously entertained. Macleod, Mr. ----, and Little Piper walked
along to this side room, and there Oscar was properly secured.

"And I will get him some water, sir, if he wants it," said the boy in
the kilts.

"Very well," Macleod said. "And I will give you my thanks for it; for
that is all that a Highlander, and especially a piper, expects for a
kindness. And I hope you will learn the Gaelic soon, my boy. And do you
know 'Cumhadh na Cloinne?' No, it is too difficult for you; but I think
if I had the chanter between my fingers myself, I could let you hear
'Cumhadh na Cloinne.'"

"I am sure John Maclean can play it," said the small piper.

"Who is he?"

The gentleman in charge of the youngsters explained that John Maclean
was the eldest of the juvenile pipers, five others of whom were in
attendance.

"I think," said Macleod, "that I am coming down in a little time to make
the acquaintance of your young pipers, if you will let me."

He passed up the broad staircase and into the empty supper-room, from
which a number of entrances showed him the strange scene being enacted
in the larger hall. Who were these people who were moving to the sound
of rapid music? A clown in a silken dress of many colors, with bells to
his cap and wrists, stood at one of the doors. Macleod became his
fellow-spectator of what was going forward. A beautiful Tyrolienne, in a
dress of black, silver, and velvet, with her yellow hair hanging in two
plaits down her back, passed into the room, accompanied by Charles the
First in a large wig and cloak; and the next moment they wer