The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Ihe Highland Monthly.
Whiles I think that 1 must leave the country a'thegither on
account of the loss and trouble to which I am subjected. I
have repeatedly spoken to Drumblankit about the matter,
but without effect ; and
weel to see me harried to interfere."
Bailie Drummond would like ower
" Just as I said," exclaimed Macbride of Dell, " the
Bailie is makin^y a tool of the old laird, who, as I have good
reason to know, is stubborn, and stupid, and proud, and the
wily Drummond well knows how to turn his mistress'
ambition to his own advantage. But, as you say that
sheep-stealing can be proved against Torquil, I do not
think that they can afterwards continue to protect a family
who, by habit and repute, are as bad as he. It would be a
public scandal, and Drummond dare not face that. Were
Duncairn to know that he had been backing up Drum-
blankit in sheltering these thieves, it would go hard with
his bailieship."
" It is time and far more than time," continued Teviot,
'' that the doings of these M'llvaines were properly looked
into. Since Lammas, alone, I must have lost about a score
of wethers. You have suffered to some extent, and one
or two others told me to-day that they had not been
scaithless. Of course the M'llvaine tribe could not of them-
selves consume so much mutton, so it is supposed that they
contrive to take part of the stock they steal to the Southern
markets along with droves which they have in charge.
For some months the men are pretty constantly upon the
road as drivers. I suppose that topsmen hire them on the
principle of setting a thief to catch a thief; and the fellows
have never been suspected of laying a finger on a beast
entrusted to them in this way. Since Torquil's appre-
hension Farquhar and Gillies are supposed to be in the
South in connection with the trysts, but I have some reason
to know that they have been at home part of the time.
That happened three nights ago, which convinced me that
the dastards, my mortal foes, were at hand. Six pure-bred
tups which I had bought at a high price in the South, were