is waiting. Don't
you come. We'll have poor old Maxy back before long."

"I shall come with you," said The Mackhai, rising, and taking a flask
and plaid from where they lay. "What are you going to do first?"

"I'll soon show you," cried Ken excitedly. "Here, Dirk, old boy, put on
your best nose to-night, and let's show the Londoner what a Highland dog
can do."

Dirk barked loudly, and followed his master as he rushed out of the room
and up-stairs to Max's chamber, where Kenneth dragged some of the
clothes which his visitor had worn last down upon the carpet.

"Now, Dirk! seek, laddie, seek!"

The dog dashed at the clothes, snuffed at them, tossed them over,
snuffed at them again, and then uttered a sharp, whining bark.

"Come along," cried Kenneth, and he ran down to the hall, where his
father was ready, and then out into the dark courtyard, at whose
entrance Tavish was waiting, armed with a tall staff.

"I ken ye're richt, maister," he said. "We'll lay ta collie on chust
where the laddie saw ta young chentleman last."

Very little was said as they trudged on, Kenneth holding Dirk by one of
his ears, till they reached the foot of the slope, pointed out by
Scoodrach as the road taken by Max.

Here the dog was loosed, and he looked up in his master's face, barking
loudly, as if asking for instructions, and not yet comprehending what
was meant.

"Seek, laddie, seek! Max, Max! Seek, seek!"

Dirk uttered a low yelping whine, and began to quarter the ground,
whimpering and growing more and more excited as he increased the
distance between him and those who followed by sound, for the dog was
soon invisible in the darkness.

For quite a quarter of an hour the hunt was kept on, each minute damping
the hopes of the party more and more, till The Mackhai said sadly,--

"It's of no use, my boy. You're asking too much of the dog."

"She thocht Dirk would ha' takken it up," said Tavish slowly. "She's na
the dog she thocht."

"Don't give up yet, father. I feel sure."

"Hey, she's cot it!" cried Tavish wildly, as a loud baying bark came
from Dirk.

"Yes, come on! He has got it now," cried Kenneth, and he dashed on at a
sharp trot right into the darkness.

"Keep up with him, Tavish," cried The Mackhai. "Steady, Ken, steady."

"All right, father," came from far ahead.

"Oh ay, sir, she'll be close aifter the young Chief. Hark! d'ye hear?
Dirk's got the scent, and she'll rin him doon."

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