aps of firewood, namely,
Dan Davidson and Fred Jenkins. What more natural than that these two,
on hearing the order given about blankets and table-cloths, etcetera,
should quit the fires and follow Elspie and Elise into the house!

In the first bedroom into which they entered they found Archie and
Billie Sinclair, the latter seated comfortably in an arm-chair close to
a window, the former wild with delight at the sudden demand on all his
energies. For Archie had been one of the first to leap to the work when
old McKay gave the order. Then he had suddenly recollected his little
helpless brother, and had dashed round to Prairie Cottage, got him on
his back, run with him to Ben Nevis Hall, placed him as we have seen in
a position to view the field of battle, and then, advising him to sit
quietly there and enjoy the fun, had dashed down-stairs to resume his
place in the forefront of battle!

He had run up again for a moment to inquire how Little Bill was getting
on, when the blanket and sheet searchers found them.

"All right," he exclaimed, on learning what they came for; "here you
are. Look alive! Don't stir, Little Bill!"

He hurled the bedding from a neighbouring bedstead as he spoke, tore
several blankets from the heap, and tumbled rather than ran down-stairs
with them, while the friends he had left behind followed his example.

By that time all the inmates and farm-servants of Prairie Cottage had
assembled at Ben Nevis Hall, attracted either by sympathy or curiosity
as to the amazing fracas which old McKay was creating. Of course they
entered into the spirit of the preparations, so that when the enemy at
last descended on them they found the garrison ready. But the defenders
might as well have remained quiet and gone to their beds.

Night was drawing near at the time, and was, as it were, precipitated by
the grasshoppers, which darkened the whole sky with what appeared to be
a heavy shower of snow.

The fires were lighted, water was poured into the trench, and the two
households fought with blanket, sheet, counterpane, and towel, in a
manner that proved the courage of the ancient heroes to be still
slumbering in men and women of modern days.

But what could courage do against such overwhelming odds? Thousands
were slaughtered. Millions pressed on behind.

"Don't give in, lads," cried the heroic and desperate Highlander,
wielding a great green blanket in a way that might have roused the
admiration if