an elder now, oftentimes I have come on
him round a corner, using most uncovenanted language to his underlings.
But he is a good gardener, and there is no service in being over gleg in
the hearing with such. Besides, his wife clours him soundly enough when
there is need.

Somewhat after the following manner Tam told his tale, a trifle
unwillingly at first, but warming with the recollection as he proceeded.

"Aweel, Sir William, gin ye insist. No that I like to be speakin' aboot
thae days; but as ye inform me that it is a' to be written doon, I'll
tell ye it word for word. Weel, after the Conventiclers had outfaced us
at the Shalloch-on-Minnoch, Clavers and Douglas rode south to the
Minnoch Brig that looks to Loch Trool.

"'There's a dour pack o' Whigs up that glen,' says Clavers. 'Think ye we
will take a turn and steer them?'

"'They will just be hiving hame frae the conventicle. We shall catch
them as they run,' Douglas made answer.

"So without a word more, slack rein and go-as-you-please, we rode up
Glen Trool. It was a bonny nicht and at a' times a bonny place, but the
track was ill to keep, and we rode loose and scattering. Douglas was
fair foaming with the affront of the Shalloch, and vowed, as he had
often vowed before, that he would never more spare hilt or hair of the
accursed breed.

"At the Caldons, a bit farmhouse set on a rig among trees at the foot of
Loch Trool, Gib Macaterick and I were riding on ahead down by the
water-side by the loch, when suddenly, without warning, we came on a
little cloud of men all on their knees praying behind a dyke back. They
were so busy with the supplications that they did not notice us. And we
that looked for promotion over the head of the business, covered them
with our muskets and called to them to surrender for traitors and
rebels. But in a trice they were over the dyke and at us like wild-cats,
gripping our horses and tumbling us off. They got Gib down, but I that
was suppler, managed to jook among the young oak-trees and run what I
was fit back to the troop.

"Douglas was in command, for Clavers had ridden on. He was a wild man
when I told him that the rebels had taken Gib Macaterick.

"'Curse you and him both!' Douglas cried. 'Do I command a set of
porridge-stuffed, baggy knaves that fall off their horses whenever they
see a Whig tyke skartin' for fleas? I'll tan Gib's hide for him and
yours too, my man, when we come to the post. Ye shall ride the timber
hor