it was only the testimony of some of the school boys, their oaths (they being under age for knowing the nature of an oath) could not be taken in a court of justice; yet, since the dominie and the baillie questioned the boys about Glass's report, even before they knew the pedler was in custody, and finding their account and Sandy Glass's to agree perfectly, the pedler was sent to Rothsay jail under a strong escort of twelve men, who volunteered to conduct him thither.

Now the scheme of Glass to detect the murderer was flying through all the island, and it was allowed by the gray-headed man, the youth; and the child, to be the "cunningest, trap to catch the birkie ony body ken'd."

Sandy was no longer the derision of the child, and the pity of the aged; he now became an object of curiosity: and when in the dark nights the boys were

going home, Sandy was applied to for his protection "frae the deel and the witches," and to Sandy the aged looked as to a warlock.

But there were many who thought that "the deil wanted Lerwick's saul and body, for putting it into his head to kill the laird; and auld Horney wad na' bide a month langer, till he gat him frae the gallows tree, to his dark unbottomed, boundless pit, fill'd fu' o' lowin brunstane."

But Lerwick escaped from the jail by digging up the pavement of the cell he was in, close by the front window, and made his exit underneath the foundation of the house into the street.

There was in those days no sentinel on that jail placed; the jailor lived not near the jail. It was generally believed, from the manner he got out, that, favoured with a long February's night,

and the assistance of some friend, who dug up the ground without the prison, he effected his escape with both a pick and a shovel: yet none of those implements could be found, and it was even more mysterious to conjecture by whom he had been assisted; but his escape gave the presumptive evidence and plan of Sandy Glass double force; and the conjecture that somebody assisted him in escaping, gave a general belief throughout all the island, that the laird met his death by more hands than two.

Levingstone's time was rather circumscribed at this season of the year, and he prepared to leave the island, and return by his father's to Edinburgh.

The parting morning came, and all Mr. Thornhill's family, amongst whom we include Ellen St.Clyde, took an affectionate and tender leave of Levingstone.

But what was Levingstone's surprize,

when coming to the ferry, in a very sequestered lane, Glass, having taken off his hat to them, seemed desirous of speaking to Levingstone alone. The minister, who knew much more of Glass's character than Antony, begged he would walk his horse, or dismount and converse with the poor lad; it would please Sandy, and his report of Mr. Levingstone's attention would not be to the discredit of his name when he was gone.

Levingstone dismounted, and Sandy began to tell him a long story on the light in which the people of the island. viewed Mon., Villejuive's taking the evidence of Lerwick's alibi; and hinted in concluding, that himself had strong suspicions, that the Tranent man was nae better than mony a guid trusty, leal man, wha had to flee oure the water to Charlie" Levingstone heard all, and was about to remount his horse,

when Glass took from his pocket a letter which he said Captain Whiggans had given him that morning.

Levingstone opened the letter, and read as follows:

«Sir,

You will excuse this freedom from a stranger; though my present profession be none of the best, it does not prevent me from bearing the heart of a human being. I was once in better circumstances; my education was of a superior kind; but I am an undone man. I am not undone though as respects cash, and if I can be of any service to Miss St. Clyde, whom I once saw when a child, at her late father's house, most cheerfully will I be at her service with my purse. And if there has been an accomplice with Lerwick, to the death of her father, I and my people will perhaps find him out. I have only to beg, if you wish to get