nken, owllike solemnity.

"I may take it from the look of things that there are none hereabouts
but good Whigs and upholders of government? No Tories--no damned black
Jacobites?"

The excise man hemmed. "Why, ye see we're no sae muckle far from
Hielands and Hielandmen, and it's known what they are, chief,
chieftain, and clan--saving always the duke and every Campbell! And I
wadna say that there are not, here and there, this side the Hielands,
an auld family with leanings the auld way, and even a few gentlemen
who were _out_ in the 'fifteen. But the maist of us, gentle and
simple, are up and down Whig and Kirk and reigning House.--Na, na!
when we drink to the King we dinna pass the glass over the water!"

A dark, thin soldier put in his word, well garnished with oaths. "Now
that there's war up and down and so many of us are going out of the
country, there's a saying that the Pretender may e'en sail across from
France and beat a drum and give a shout! Then there'll be a sorting--"

"Them that would rise wouldn't be enough to make a graveyard ghost to
frighten with!"

"You're mistaken there. They'll frighten ye all right when they answer
the drum! I'm thinking there's some in the army would answer it!"

"Then they'll be hanged, drawn, and quartered!" averred the corporal.
"Who are ye thinking would do that?"

"I'm not precisely knowing. But there are some with King George were
brought up on the hope of King James!"

More liquor appeared upon the table, was poured and drunk. The talk
grew professional. The King's shilling, and the advantage of taking
it, came solely upon the board, and who might or might not 'list from
this dale and the bordering hills. Strickland and Robin Greenlaw left
their corner.

"I must get back to the house."

"And I to Littlefarm."

They went out together. There were few in the street. The snow was
beginning to fall. Greenlaw untied his horse.

"I hope that we're not facing another 'fifteen! _'Scotland's ain
Stewarts, and Break the Union!'_ It sounds well, but it's not in the
line of progression. What does Captain Ian Rullock think about it?"

"I don't know. He hasn't been here, you know, for a long while."

"That's true. He and Mr. Alexander are still like brothers?"

"Like brothers."

Greenlaw mounted his horse. "Well, he's a bonny man, but he's got a
piece of the demon in him! So have I, I ken very well, and so,
doubtless, has he who will be Glenfernie, and all the rest of us