know Gibbie, but he was a human being. He
was quite cowed and submissive, and Gibbie at once set about his
rescue. He had reasoned as he came along that, if there were beasts
at the Mains, there must be room for Snowball, and thither he would
endeavour to take him. He tied the end of the line to the remnant
of the halter on his head, the other end being still fast to the
barrel, and took to the water again. Encouraged by the power upon
his head, the pressure, namely, of the halter, the horse followed,
and they made for the Mains. It was a long journey, and Gibbie had
not breath enough to sing to Snowball, but he made what noise he
could, and they got slowly along. He found the difficulties far
greater now that he had to look out for the horse as well as for
himself. None but one much used to the water could have succeeded
in the attempt, or could indeed have stood out against its weakening
influence and the strain of the continued exertion together so long.
At length his barrel got water-logged, and he sent it adrift.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE BRANDER.

Mistress Croale was not, after all, the last who arrived at the
Mains. But that the next arrival was accounted for, scarcely
rendered it less marvellous than hers.--Just after the loss of
Snowball, came floating into the farmyard, over the top of the gate,
with such astonishment of all who beheld that each seemed to place
more confidence in his neighbour's eyes than in his own, a woman on
a raft, with her four little children seated around her, holding the
skirt of her gown above her head and out between her hands for a
sail. She had made the raft herself, by tying some bars of a paling
together, and crossing them with what other bits of wood she could
find--a brander she called it, which is Scotch for a gridiron, and
thence for a grating. Nobody knew her. She had come down the
Lorrie. The farmer was so struck with admiration of her invention,
daring, and success, that he vowed he would keep the brander as long
as it would stick together; and as it could not be taken into the
house, he secured it with a rope to one of the windows.

When they had the horses safe on the first floor, they brought the
cattle into the lower rooms; but it became evident that if they were
to have a chance, they also must be got up to the same level.
Thereupon followed a greater tumult than before--such a banging of
heads and hind quarters, of horns and shoulders, against walls