Rogers, a mineralogist; Mr White, the surgeon; Mr
Holt, of the Swedish navy, and Mr McLean, a principal settler.

Indeed the whole party would have probably been killed and the settlers
massacred at that time, but for the courageous interposition of the
chief of the half-breeds, Cuthbert Grant, who, at the risk of his life,
stood between the settlers and their foes, only one of which last was
killed.

When old McKay and his party drew near to the scene, the massacre was
completed, and most of his little band--which had been slightly
augmented on the way up--turned right-about, and rode away to defend
their respective homes.

But the warrior spirit of old McKay and his sons had been roused. They
refused to turn tail, and, in company with Dan and Peter Davidson, made
a furious charge into a detached party of the half-breeds which they
chanced to encounter. They scattered them like sheep, though they did
not succeed in killing any. Then they also wheeled round and galloped
back to their respective homes.

"Come, Elspie, tear," said the old man as he dismounted, "putt what ye
value most in your pocket an' come away. The duvles are down on us, and
we are not able to hold out in Ben Nevis. The settlers must choin
altogether, an' do the best we can to defend ourselves."

While he was speaking, the Highlander was busy stuffing some of the
smaller of his household goods into his pockets--amongst them a large
quantity of tobacco.

Meanwhile Fergus hastened to the stable to saddle Vixen for Elspie,
while the poor girl ran to her room and secured some small objects which
she valued--among them a miniature portrait of her mother, and a Bible
which the good lady had given to her a short time before her death.
There was no money, and no valuable documents had to be looked after, so
that preparations for fight were soon completed.

Now there was a member of old Duncan McKay's household who has not yet
been introduced to the reader, but whose character and influence in the
household were such as to demand special notice. This member was an old
woman named Peg. Probably this was an abbreviation of Peggy, but we
cannot tell. Neither can we say what her surname was, for we never
heard it, and no one spoke of the old creature by any other name than
that of "Old Peg."

Although Old Peg was by no means feeble--indeed, judged by her
capacities, she might have been pronounced middle-aged, for she could
walk about the house all