long, low house, well thatched, like all the houses in
the neighbourhood. And it was sending up a heartsome pew of reek into
the air, that told of the stir of breakfast. The tangle of the wood grew
right up to the windows of the back, and immediately behind the house
there was a little morass with great willow trees growing and many
hiding-places about it--as well I knew, for there Maisie Lennox and I
had often played the day by the length.

Now "Auld Anton" of the Duchrae was a kenned man all over the
country-side. The name of Anthony Lennox of Duchrae was often on my
father's lips, and not seldom he would ride off to the south in the high
days of Presbytery, to have fellowship with him whenever he was low in
the spirit, and also before our stated seasons of communion. Thither
also I had often ridden in later years on other errands, as has already
been said.

Never had I been able to understand, by what extraordinary favour
Anthony Lennox had not only been able to escape so far himself, but
could afford a house of refuge to others in even more perilous plight.
Upon the cause of this immunity there is no need at present to
condescend, but certain it is that the house of the Duchrae had been
favoured above most, owing to an influence at that time hidden from me.
For Auld Anton was never the man to hide his thoughts or to set a curb
upon his actions.

With a light hand Matthew of the Dub knocked at the door, which was
carefully and immediately opened. A woman of a watchful and rather
severe countenance presented herself there--a serving woman, but
evidently one accustomed to privilege and equality, as was common in
Galloway at that day.

"Matthew Welsh," she said, "what brings you so far from hame so early in
the morning?"

"I come wi' thae twa callants--young Gordon o' Earlstoun, and a young
man that is near kin to him. It may be better to gie the particulars the
go-by till I see you more privately. Is the good man about the doors?"

For answer the woman went to the window at the back and cried thrice.
Instantly we saw a little cloud of men disengage themselves irregularly
from the bushes and come towards the door. Then began a curious scene.
The woman ran to various hiding-places under the eaves, behind dressers,
in aumries and presses, and set a large number of bowls of porridge on
the deal table. Soon the house was filled with the stir of men and the
voices of folk in earnest conversation.

Among them all I