"Gude luck tae ye up at Westerton, sir; nane but a richt-hearted manwud hae riskit the Tochty in flood. Ye're boond tae succeed aiftersic a graund beginning" for it had spread already that a famoussurgeon had come to do his best for Annie, Tammas Mitchell's wife.

Two hours later MacLure came out from Annie's room and laid hold ofTammas, a heap of speechless misery by the kitchen fire, and carriedhim off to the barn, and spread some corn on the threshing floor andthrust a flail into his hands.

"Noo we've tae begin, an' we 'ill no be dune for an' oor, and ye'vetae lay on withoot stoppin' till a' come for ye, an' a'll shut thedoor tae haud in the noise, an' keep yir dog beside ye, for theremaunna be a cheep aboot the hoose for Annie's sake."

"A'll dae onythingye want me, but if--if--"

"A'll come for ye, Tammas, gin there be danger; but what are yefeared for wi' the Queen's ain surgeon here?"

Fifty minutes did the flail rise and fall, save twice, when Tammascrept to the door and listened, the hound lifting his head andwhining.

It seemed twelve hours instead of one when the door swung back, andMacLure filled the doorway, preceded by a great burst of light, forthe sun had arisen on the snow.