The Washington times., 1913-01-27

us became black and calm, he talked on
with fancy gestures and bright eyes
But, despite his liveliness, I observed
him once or twice look long and anx.
| iously at the farthermost visible poini
of the shore road. And he would pause
in his babble as his eyes traced the
highway through wood and meadow.
BY and by Mariposa, tired OF brushing
the snow from her bonnet and hair
erawled back into her shelter and. ]
suppose, fell asleep again. Then Bor-
deaux's gable ceased, and he scanned
the coast road in silence. with his hands
over his eyes to ward of the great
feathery flakes.
IAN honest mind and plain" said he
after a while. IT must speak truth. The
Macdonald is after ye."
1 could hardly believe II to be true
SO soon.
your eyes when we rounded the point, /"
said Bordeaux "or your eyes nigh,
have seen boat on the long reach from
the Kyles 70 the Cloch. However" he
added cheerilv seeing the anxiety In my
to the inn and the Dagleish will take an
hour to feed and inform them"
] sprang to my feet and seized an oar.
At the first push the boat yielded. The
tide was flooding. Bordeaux helped me.
and presently. to our relief. we were
free. But. as my companion had
pro2hesied the wind had dropped lulled
TO sleep by the soft downfall. My heart
ssnk. then leaped. for it flashed Into my
mind that IL We were becalmed. so, too.
would be the Macdonald.
But they were rowing" said Bor-
deaux. fitting his ash into the rowlock.
| did the same and set lusty stroke.
Easy, lad-easy." said my companion,
rowing as IL nc were sailing after fish.
Let us pray that the merciless Mac
donald is close nnOn Ollr heels.
7 stopped rowing. and only the close
presence of Mariposa stayed my angry
tongue.
gravelv. he would hope TO reach Glas-
cow before US. by chaise from the
CIoch. II he knew we were becalmed
less than two hours sail up the river.
he would come after us with his rowers,
Let US hope IL is post-chaise.'
And why. man?''
"Th. snow" Bordeaux laughed.
There's manv o Draw fire in MANY
coZy tavern by the way. II the Mac
donald wins past Port Glasgow as the
thaw the whusky: Hoot. mon!' he
doers. Fall tot. RorIe. but steady.
Fourteen miles. and the tide with US"
for my fears. we won the race. to the
fishing village of Govar. which is three
or four miles this side OF Glasgow.
When we arrived at that part of the
river it was late in the afternoon. yet
one might well have though i late
that We could barely see the shore on
either side. narrow as the river Is
thereabcut We could see, however, the
lights OF Ninian's tavern by the water
side Coming warm and yellow through
the snoy-fog. that beacon spoke of
cracking fire and hot bacon and mulled
ale and cozy blanket
If Bordeaux was As tir.d as ], he
and beach the little argosy which had
been so faithful a friend. Mariposa
was onlv half awake when we pounded
at the door OF Ninian's. Ringan Scouler.
the host, started back as II he had re-
ceived visitation of ghosts when the
broad shaft OF light from the opened
door fell upon our snow-swathed fig
ures.
"Guid forgle u.s." he gasped. "Whas
yon?" Then, remembering his business,
he added quickly: Come aw' in. The
fires burnin' CHEEKY an'-losh. but ane
O. yes lass!'
And a right bonny one at that said
tall man in long-knitted hose and
black coat, rising from a stool by the
hearth.
AYE. aye" said another. more SOM
berly garbed. "A Draw bit lass and a
guild ane. I'll wager"
Mariposa colored up and bowed, the
movement dislodging a lump OF half
thawed snow from her bonnet.
''Hoot toot" said Worsted Hose.
Come tae the fire, lass. Here. curate.
get aft that stool"
Aye, ayen said the curate, Jumping
up SO hurriedly that he upset his tank
ard of ale. Il was over throng WI the
lady's face TO mind my manners. Make
yoursers at hame by the fire. friends.
Hay, Ringan, bring mair stools an
man, dominie! he cried humorously to
Worsted Hose, ''dinna start flirtin' wi
the lass. Get up. ye auld sinner, and
let the veesitors hae keek at the fire"
We had landed in homely company
the dominic and the curate, the learn
ing of Govan. They tell me that you
cannot go there after q certain hour Of