lack his eyes. What sud I be frightened of, ye miserable
little shrimp?"

"Really, I don't know, Speug," said Nestie; "but just let me g-guess. It
might be climbing the hill; or did you think you might meet one of the
'Pennies,' and he would fight you; or, Speug--an idea occurs to me--do
you feel as if you did not want to spend an hour--just a nice, quiet
hour--all alone with Bulldog? You and he are such f-friends, Speug, in
the Seminary. Afraid of Bulldog? Speug, I'm ashamed of you, when poor
little me has to live with him now every day."

"When I get a grip o' you, Nestie Molyneux, I'll learn ye to give me
chat. I never was afraid of Bulldog, and I dinna care if he chases me
round the garden wi' a stick, but I'm no coming."

"You _are_ afraid, Speug; you _dare_ not come." And Nestie kept
carefully out of Speug's reach.

"You are a liar," cried Speug. "I'll come up this very night at seven
o'clock, but I'll no come in unless ye're at the garden door."

Speug had fought many pitched battles in his day, and was afraid neither
of man nor beast, but his heart sank within him for the first time in
his life when he crossed the bridge and climbed the hill to the
residence of Mr. Dugald MacKinnon. Nothing but his pledged word, and a
reputation for courage which must not be tarnished, since it rested on
nothing else, brought him up the lane to Bulldog's door. He was before
his time, and Nestie had not yet come to meet him, and he could allow
his imagination to picture what was within the walls, and what might
befall his unfortunate self before he went down that lane again. His one
consolation and support was in the lop-eared rabbits; and if it were the
case, as Nestie had sworn with an oath which never had been broken at
the Seminary, that there were rabbits within that dreadful enclosure,
there was hope for him; for if he knew about anything, he knew about
rabbits, and if anyone had to do with rabbits--and although it was
incredible, yet had not Nestie sworn it with an oath?--there must be
some bowels of mercy even in Bulldog. Speug began to speculate whether
he might not be able, with Nestie's loyal help, to reach the rabbits and
examine thoroughly into their condition, and escape from the garden
without a personal interview with its owner; and at the thought thereof
Speug's heart was lifted. For of all his exploits which had delighted
the Seminary, none, for its wonder and daring, its sheer amazingness,
could be compare