nly loose in the midst
of one of his fierce straining contortions, the result was that he
threw his body right over his head, and lay on his face for a moment
confused. Gibbie saw his advantage. He snatched his clumsy tool
out of the fire, seated himself on the corresponding part of Angus's
person, and seizing with the tongs the rope between his feet, held
on to both, in spite of his heaves and kicks. In the few moments
that passed while Gibbie burned through a round of the rope, Angus
imagined a considerable number of pangs; but when Gibbie rose and
hopped away, he discovered that his feet were at liberty, and
scrambled up, his head dizzy, and his body reeling. But such was
then the sunshine of delight in Gibbie's countenance that even Angus
stared at him for a moment--only, however, with a vague reflection
on the inconsequentiality of idiots, to which succeeded the impulse
to take vengeance upon him for his sufferings. But Gibbie still had
the tongs, and Angus's hands were still tied. He held them out to
him. Gibbie pounced upon the knots with hands and teeth. They
occupied him some little time, during which Angus was almost
compelled to take better cognizance of the face of the savage; and
dull as he was to the good things of human nature, he was yet in a
measure subdued by what he there looked upon rather than perceive;
while he could scarcely mistake the hearty ministration of his teeth
and nails! The moment his hands were free, Gibbie looked up at him
with a smile, and Angus did not even box his ears. Holding by the
wall, Gibbie limped to the door and opened it. With a nod meant for
thanks, the gamekeeper stepped out, took up his gun from where it
leaned against the wall, and hurried away down the hill. A moment
sooner and he would have met Janet; but she had just entered the
byre again to milk poor Crummie.

When she came into the cottage, she stared with astonishment to see
no Angus on the floor. Gibbie, who had lain down again in much
pain, made signs that he had let him go: whereupon such a look of
relief came over her countenance that he was filled with fresh
gladness, and was if possible more satisfied still with what he had
done.

It was late before Robert returned--alone, weary, and disappointed.
The magistrate was from home; he had waited for him as long as he
dared; but at length, both because of his wife's unpleasant
position, and the danger to himself if he longer delayed his journey