a' that I
could say, I aye threw out a word mair about the gunpouther, and garr'd
the Marquis tak the job in his ain hand."

"But you have not answered my question," said the Master, impatiently;
"how came the powder there, and where is it now?"

"Ou, it came there, an ye maun needs ken," said Caleb, looking
mysteriously, and whispering, "when there was like to be a wee bit
rising here; and the Marquis, and a' the great lords of the north, were
a' in it, and mony a gudely gun and broadsword were ferried ower frae
Dunkirk forbye the pouther. Awfu' work we had getting them into the
tower under cloud o' night, for ye maun think it wasna everybody could
be trusted wi' sic kittle jobs. But if ye will gae hame to your supper,
I will tell you a' about it as ye gang down."

"And these wretched boys," said Ravenswood, "is it your pleasure they
are to sit there all night, to wait for the blowing up of a tower that
is not even on fire?"

"Surely not, if it is your honour's pleasure that they suld gang hame;
although," added Caleb, "it wadna do them a grain's damage: they wad
screigh less the next day, and sleep the sounder at e'en. But just as
your honour likes."

Stepping accordingly towards the urchins who manned the knolls near
which they stood, Caleb informed them, in an authoritative tone, that
their honours Lord Ravenswood and the Marquis of A---- had given orders
that the tower was not to be blow up till next day at noon. The boys
dispersed upon this comfortable assurance. One or two, however, followed
Caleb for more information, particularly the urchin whom he had cheated
while officiating as turnspit, who screamed, "Mr. Balderstone!--Mr.
Balderstone! then the castle's gane out like an auld wife's spunk?"

"To be sure it is, callant," said the butler; "do ye think the castle
of as great a lord as Lord Ravenswood wad continue in a bleeze, and him
standing looking on wi' his ain very een? It's aye right," continued
Caleb, shaking off his ragged page, and closing in to his Master, "to
train up weans, as the wise man says, in the way they should go, and,
aboon a', to teach them respect to their superiors."

"But all this while, Caleb, you have never told me what became of the
arms and powder," said Ravenswood.

"Why, as for the arms," said Caleb, "it was just like the bairn's
rhyme--

Some gaed east and some gaed west,
And some gaed to the craw's nest.

And for the pouther, I e'en changed it, as occasio