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           There’sawfu’talescomin’dounfromthemuirso’wildridersanddeidlasses--ay,anddeidbairns--a’thepuirclamjamphrythatfollowedtheIrish.Itcannabericht,sir,tomeetaeblood-guiltinesswi’anitherandawaur.AndyonthrawnettercapfraeBoldridin’wi’thesodgersandpraisin’theLordwhenanitherwaefu’creatureperishes!AndChasehope,theytellme--blackbehisfa’--guidin’thesodgerstothelandwardbuts-and-benslikeadowgafterrattons!Catchyonladfrontin’anarmedman,buthe’slikeJehuthesonofNimshiaforedefencelesswomen."

           Davidaskedifanyonehadbeennearthemanse.

           "That’swhatfickles[puzzles]me.There’sbeennaebodyatthedoor,butthere’sbeenplentysnowkin’round.There’sageyguidwatchkeepit.Andwaurthanthat,there’ssodgersintheclachan--tenmenandanetheyca’asairgentatLuckyWeir’s.Iheardroutin’asIgaedbythekirkton,and,judgingbytheaiths,there’ssma’differbetweenthemthatfechtsforMontroseandthemthatuphaudstheCovenant."

           Nextdaytheuneasinessofbothincreased.Theplacewasthrongedwithtroopers,amongthemthemenwhomDavidhaddenouncedattheGreenshiel.Itisprobablethathishastywordshadbeenreported,fordarklooksfollowedhimashepassedtheale-house.Moreover,IsobelhadnewsinthevillagethatLeslie’smainforceswereevennowmovingtowardsWoodilee,andthatthetriumphantgeneralhimselfwouldlodgeinthevillage.Wherewouldsuchlodgingbefoundexceptinthemanse?Atanymomenttheguest-roomanditscontentsmightliebaretohostileeyes.