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him to the very place whare the young laird and his cousins were fishing-aye, and I mind the bag wi' the fishing books, and the snoods."

"What bag, Sandy? is it the bag in my school?”—“Aye is't, sir, the same." "And what of the man who gave it; do you know him, Sandy?" said Mr. Maclean.

"Every craw thinks its ain bird whitest, may be he's nae blacker than his neighbour."

"Who, Sandy? the man from whom the sergeant took the pistol, or the man who gave it to St. Clyde?" said the dominie.

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Na, na, it's nae him, but him that gaed the pistol to Colin; gif ye'll send for Mr. Levingstone frae Edenbruch; I ken how to find the man that had the pistol afore Colin gat it, an' the deils chap that Mr. Macbean took it frae."

All the company went over to the

manse, and the minister heard the whole of what we have related. And a person was sent off express to Edinburgh, for Levingstone; and it was with that person that he came to Bute, leaving Colin in the company of the beautiful Eliza.

CHAPTER XIX.

-Nature within me seems,

In all her functions, weary of herself,

And I shall shortly be with them that rest.

MILTON.

LEVINGSTONE had no sooner arrived at the manse, than the affair of the robbers and the pistol was investigated. Sergeant Macbean being put upon his oath, swore that the pistol he produced, was the pistol he wrested from the tallest of the assassins; and when he was questioned why he did not mention it to St. Clyde, all the answer Macbean would give, was, that "it was nae the fashion for a soger to brag to his captain o' ought he fleeched frae the hyde o' an enemy.'

A letter was written requesting Colin's presence at Bute immediately : and that evening, as the minister and Levingstone were going to supper, widow Glass arrived at the manse, and "wanted a word o' Sandy." He came to the door to his mother, for she would not come in, and Sandy instantly "had ae word for the lug o' Maister Levingstone," and he ventured into the presence of the company, muttering "mair hamely than welcome; it may come in an hour, that winna come in seven year; Maister Levingstone, wad ye just step this way, ye're wanted a wee while."

"Go, Mr. Levingstone go and see what he wants," said Mr. Thornhill. Levingstone came out, and as they walked through the passage, " Keep your mouth close, and your een open, as ye gang up the glen; glen; kindness comes a' will, it canna be coft; it will

creep where it canna gang; he's up the glen a tether's length only."

"Who's up the glen, Sandy?"

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Gang and see, sir; sine come to your supper; the minister 'll wait for ye, and gif he dinna, it's nae the cowl that makes the friar."

Levingstone advanced, and Sandy ran up the bank side, and there was presently heard a rustling among the bushes on the face of the rock, and Levingstone immediately recognized Whiggans. î

"I am happy to see you, Mr. Levingstone; I have set my people to watch him; its lang or the deil be found dead at a dike-side."

"Watch whom? but I am glad you are well, Mr. Whiggans."

"Have not you heard of the pistol, Mr. Levingstone?"

"I have, and it is a very mysterious affair, indeed."

"Mysterious!—it's as clear as the

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