The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Scenes of Loiio; Ago. 367
will take neither fee nor reward for her labour, unless it be
a fleece or the like at clipping time."
" And why should Ishbal Macindrui work for hire like
a common servant in the house of her kin. Besides, have
not you, Mark Teviot, built her a home of her own near the
green alder bushes on the Beltane ? I saw Ishbal to-day
and thought to have told her my tale that she might bear
it to you, but I again resolved to keep it for your own ear
alone, and between us alone let it be. Mark Teviot, you
have sent forward to Brig o' Teith Fair the largest drove of
cattle which you ever had upon the road at one time. \'ou
have without doubt invested in them a great sum of money
which you intend to bring back with you and afterwards
invest in the bank at Abergoy. You are to set out early
to-morrow morning alone, and you are to return very likely
alone."
"All you say, my good friend, is true, but what has
your tale, as you call it, to do with my movements ? I hope
to overtake the beasts in a day or two ; and, as for
returning alone, I sometimes travel with the drovers and
cattle dealers, and sometimes have no other company than
brown Bessie that I am now riding and the good dog,
Fellow, that I left to-day at home sorely against his will." •
" My tale may have a very serious bearing upon your
movements, Mark Teviot. I have got sure information,
from one who wishes well to you and }'Ours, that the
brothers Farquhar and Gillies M'llvaine intend, ere you
return, to rob you of the price of these cattle in revenge
for your having caused their brother to be arrested for
sheep-stealing. Look to yourself, therefore. In their rage
the MTlvaines may even go beyond robbery. You have
heard that terrible and mysterious story of the pedlar who
was last seen going in the direction of their haunts and
never reappeared in the country since then. There are
those who affirm that the Anard women have been wearing
articles of clothinLr .\ hich he had been exposing for sale in
Balmoses. Remember the M'llvaines are now desperate