"Ye're no surely frae the Glen, lads?" as the men leaped the dykeand crossed to the back door, the snow falling from their plaids asthey strode.

"We're that an' nae mistak, but a' thocht we wud be lickit ae place,eh, Chairlie? a'm no sae weel acquant wi' the hill on this side, an'there wes some kittle (hazardous) drifts."

"It wes grand o' ye tae mak the attempt," said Drumsheugh, "an' a'mgled ye're safe."

"He cam through as bad himsel tae help ma wife," was Charlie'sreply.

"They're three mair Urtach shepherds 'ill come in by sune; they'refrae Upper Urtach, an' we saw them fording the river; ma certes, ittook them a' their time, for it wes up tae their waists and rinnin'like a mill lade, but they jined hands and cam ower fine." And theUrtach men went in to the fire.

The Glen began to arrive in twos and threes, and Jamie, from a pointof vantage at the gate, and under an appearance of utterindifference, checked his roll till even he was satisfied.

"Weelum MacLure 'ill hae the beerial he deserves in spite o' sna anddrifts; it passes a' tae look at hoo they've githepurple frae far an' near.