"Hout, man, the sun's been lang up, and the dew is aff the grund--the scent will never lie."

Hobbie instantly whistled on his hounds, which were roving aboutthe ruins of their ancient habitation, and filling the air with theirdoleful howls.

"Now, Killbuck," said Hobbie, "try thy skill this day" and then,as if a light had suddenly broke on him,--"that ill-faur'd goblinspak something o' this! He may ken mair o't, either by villainson earth, or devils somewhat below--I'll hae it frae him, if I should cutit out o' his mis-shapen bouk wi' my whinger." He then hastilygave directions to his comrades: "Four o' ye, wi' Simon, haudright forward to Graeme's-gap. If they're English, they'll befor being back that way. The rest disperse by twasome andthreesome through the waste, and meet me at the Trysting-pool.Tell my brothers, when they come up, to follow and meet us there.Poor lads, they will hae hearts weelnigh as sair as mine; littlethink they what a sorrowful house they are bringing their venisonto! I'll ride ower Mucklestane-Moor mysell."

"And if I were you," exclaimed Dick of the Dingle, "I would speak toCanny Elshie. He can tell you whatever betides in this land, ifhe's sae minded."

"He SHALL tell me," said Hobbie, who was busy putting his arms inorder, "what he kens o' this night's job, or I shall right weelken wherefore he does not."