"Horse! horse! and spear!" exclaimed Hobbie to his kinsmen.Many a ready leg was in the stirrup; and, while Elliot hastilycollected arms and accoutrements, no easy matter in such aconfusion, the glen resounded with the approbation of his youngerfriends.

"Ay, ay!" exclaimed Simon of Hackburn, "that's the gate to takeit, Hobbie. Let women sit and greet at hame, men must do as theyhave been done by; it's the Scripture says't."

"Haud your tongue, sir," exclaimed one of the seniors, sternly; "dinnaabuse the Word that gate, ye dinna ken what ye speak about."

"Hae ye ony tidings?--Hae ye ony speerings, Hobbie?--0, callants,dinna be ower hasty," exclaimed very very aged Dick of the Dingle.

"What signifies preaching to us, e'enow?" exclaimed Simon; "if yecanna make help yoursell, dinna keep back them that can."