in your concern for me; but what business have you with me?"-"I'll be very plain-I have very strong suspicions that we shall soon meet again with Lerwick; how do you intend to act, Mr. St. Clyde ?"-" Why as my duty directs. But on what are your expectations of meeting Lerwick soon, founded?"

"On this, sir," pulling a letter from his pocket; "read that letter, and say if I may be allowed to give you my assistance in securing the rascal.", St. Clyde reads.

Why there can be little doubt that we shall meet with him; the ship he is in, is going to Aberdeen from North Shields; she is a Dutch bottom too, I perceive."

"Exactly so; and is expected there in-in-Bless me! I have already forgotten."

"In a few weeks after the receipt

of this, I see, by looking at the postcript."

"Now it is a month since I received that letter, and by this time the vessel in which Lerwick is, must have arrived."

"And will you not go over to the manse, Mr. Whiggans; the good man, the minister, will be pleased to see you."

"We are not of one religion, and it is only exchanging a knife for a sword, to bring us together. I wish him well, but you will be pleased to excuse me; I'll oblige you some other time."

"And do you leave the island today, Mr. Whiggans ?"—"This night I shall embark on board my vessel to the south of Mount Stuart; and if you can get your arrangements made to go with me, I shall be very happy."

"I will, you may depend on me; I'll meet you below the factor's house;

will that do? What is the hour of

meeting?"

"Very well; ten o'clock's the hour; my signal, three flashes of the pan of this pocket-pistol; the lugger's boat will answer it by three flashes, every one less than the first, the time between each a minute, as nearly as we can guess.

"But if it blow hard?"-"And if it does, we'll try it, for if the wind does not shift, we shall be under the lee of the shore-and you'll be there by ten o'clock at the utmost. The lugger will be there in time; she was off the Garroch-head this morning; I gave my own signal, and the boat came under the weather-shore to me; I desired the lads to meet me a mile the other side of the factor's house, at half after nine o'clock this night, as I was going up Loch Long with a friend-it was you, Mr. St. Clyde, I meant, and,

as many of the poor fellows as were with us when we fought, will be happy to see you."

"Now we must part. The widow will find this when she opens her Bible to put her spectacles on; two or three guineas have been given away to less profit," said Whiggans, as he closed the book.

St. Clyde went directly to the manse, and told his sister he could not go to Edinburgh, as it was necessary for him to go to the north of Scotland first.

She was surprised at this piece of news, as Augustus was his particular friend; and Mr. Thornhill jocularly hoped Mr. St. Clyde would bethink himself of the loss he might sustain in not being "the best man at the wed'ding."

Colin then disclosed the object of his going north, and Mr. Thornhill heard of his journey with a good deal

of concern, as every thing that related to the fate of the laird made the deepest impression on his heart.

It was not that this good man did not wish Lerwick taken; no, but he did not like the idea of Colin's personally engaging in it. Colin, however, was not to be overcome; and, calling his servant, he ordered him to prepare for travelling; and to the serjeant he said, "Look to it that my two brace of pistols and my dirk are in good order: and, Mr. Thornhill, as I've not time on my hands, have the goodness to write my friends in Edinburgh, and say that my duty calls me to Aberdeen, but do not mention what that duty is; and I suppose, as Ellen will not go without me, you must beg her also to be excused, on the ground of my sudden departure."

The intimation of fire and side-arms created terrors in the mind of the mi