name, that goes by all. It's just what you said yourself; my

father learned it to me, and a bonny trade I have of it. Treason

and traitors, and the smuggling of them out and in; and the French

recruiting, weary fall it! and the smuggling through of the

recruits; and their pleas--a sorrow of their pleas! Here have I

been moving one for young Ardsheil, my cousin; claimed the estate

under the marriage contract--a forfeited estate! I told them it

was nonsense: muckle they cared! And there was I cocking behind a

yadvocate that liked the business as little as myself, for it was

fair ruin to the pair of us--a black mark, DISAFFECTED, branded on

our hurdies, like folk's names upon their kye! And what can I do?

I'm a Stewart, ye see, and must fend for my clan and family. Then

no later by than yesterday there was one of our Stewart lads

carried to the Castle. What for? I ken fine: Act of 1736:

recruiting for King Lewie. And you'll see, he'll whistle me in to

be his lawyer, and there'll be another black mark on my chara'ter!

I tell you fair: if I but kent the heid of a Hebrew word from the

hurdies of it, be dammed but I would fling the whole thing up and

turn minister!"

"It's rather a hard position," said I.

"Dooms hard!" cries he. "And that's what makes me think so much of

ye--you that's no Stewart--to stick your head so deep in Stewart

business. And for what, I do not know: unless it was the sense of

duty."

"I hope it will be that," said I.

"Well," says he, "it's a grand quality. But here is my clerk back;

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