e a dull fellow thinking hard, and the stranger,
who had brought his cloak about his face, appeared uneasy. He had no
sooner seen me coming than he went to meet me with an effusive manner.

"My dear man," said he, "a thousand apologies for disturbing you, but
I'm in the most awkward position. And there's a son of a ramrod there
that I should know the looks of, and more, betoken, I believe that he
knows mine. Being in this family, sir, and in a place of some
responsibility (which was the cause I took the liberty to send for you),
you are doubtless of the honest party?"

"You may be sure at least," says I, "that all of that party are quite
safe in Durrisdeer."

"My dear man, it is my very thought," says he. "You see, I have just
been set on shore here by a very honest man, whose name I cannot
remember, and who is to stand off and on for me till morning, at some
danger to himself; and, to be clear with you, I am a little concerned
lest it should be at some to me. I have saved my life so often, Mr.
----, I forget your name, which is a very good one--that, faith, I would
be very loth to lose it after all. And the son of a ramrod, whom I
believe I saw before Carlisle...."

"O, sir," said I, "you can trust Macconochie until to-morrow."

"Well, and it's a delight to hear you say so," says the stranger. "The
truth is, that my name is not a very suitable one in this country of
Scotland. With a gentleman like you, my dear man, I would have no
concealments of course; and by your leave I'll just breathe it in your
ear. They call me Francis Burke--Colonel Francis Burke; and I am here,
at a most damnable risk to myself, to see your masters--if you'll excuse
me, my good man, for giving them the name, for I'm sure it's a
circumstance I would never have guessed from your appearance. And if you
would just be so very obliging as to take my name to them, you might say
that I come bearing letters which I am sure they will be very rejoiced
to have the reading of."

Colonel Francis Burke was one of the Prince's Irishmen, that did his
cause such an infinity of hurt, and were so much distasted of the Scots
at the time of the rebellion; and it came at once into my mind how the
Master of Ballantrae had astonished all men by going with that party. In
the same moment a strong foreboding of the truth possessed my soul.

"If you will step in here," said I, opening a chamber door, "I will let
my lord know."

"And I am sure it's very good of yo