laid waste or carried off in a single night. He stood a moment
motionless, and then exclaimed, "I am ruined--ruined to the ground!--But
curse on the warld's gear--Had it not been the week before the
bridal--But I am nae babe, to sit down and greet about it. If I can but
find Grace, and my grandmother, and my sisters weel, I can go to the
wars in Flanders, as my gude-sire did, under the Bellenden banner, wi'
auld Buccleuch. At ony rate, I will keep up a heart, or they will lose
theirs a'thegither."

Manfully strode Hobbie down the hill, resolved to suppress his
own despair, and administer consolation which he did not feel. The
neighbouring inhabitants of the dell, particularly those of his own
name, had already assembled. The younger part were in arms and clamorous
for revenge, although they knew not upon whom; the elder were taking
measures for the relief of the distressed family. Annaple's cottage,
which was situated down the brook, at some distance from the scene of
mischief, had been hastily adapted for the temporary accommodation
of the old lady and her daughters, with such articles as had been
contributed by the neighbours, for very little was saved from the wreck.

"Are we to stand here a' day, sirs," exclaimed one tall young man, "and
look at the burnt wa's of our kinsman's house? Every wreath of the reek
is a blast of shame upon us! Let us to horse, and take the chase.--Who
has the nearest bloodhound?"

"It's young Earnscliff," answered another; "and he's been on and away
wi' six horse lang syne, to see if he can track them."

"Let us follow him then, and raise the country, and mak mair help as
we ride, and then have at the Cumberland reivers! Take, burn, and
slay--they that lie nearest us shall smart first."

"Whisht! haud your tongues, daft callants," said an old man, "ye dinna
ken what ye speak about. What! wad ye raise war atween two pacificated
countries?"

"And what signifies deaving us wi' tales about our fathers," retorted
the young; man, "if we're to sit and see our friends' houses burnt ower
their heads, and no put out hand to revenge them? Our fathers did not do
that, I trow?"

"I am no saying onything against revenging Hobbie's wrang, puir chield;
but we maun take the law wi' us in thae days, Simon," answered the more
prudent elder.

"And besides," said another old man, "I dinna believe there's ane now
living that kens the lawful mode of following a fray across the Border.
Tam o' Whittram k