tongues-the same cause doubtless that made Duncan sing so gaily at his labour, and that brought a smile to the usually stern face of the chief's lieutenant.

Come, cousin," cried the smith at last, "take up the hammer, and try your skill with me."

Thereat MacKay laughed aloud.

"Now, Duncan," said he, "well you know that I am no light smiter with the broad sword, but I'd be loath to try my weight against the finest smith in Islay."

"In Islay !" exclaimed Black Duncan testily, but not, however, pausing in his work. "In all the Hebrides! Man, there's not a smith worthy of the name in the North Isles, and in the South the only man I'd try a blow with is MacLeod of Aros, who learned his trade in my father's smithy."

"You'll match your skill against his yet if MacLean gets the Rhinns," quoth the lieutenant.

"Aye, aye! In that case it'll be the keenest blades and the toughest armour that'll count, for MacLean will never get the land he covets peaceably! These," he added, pointing to the iron on which he was at work, and to three similar hinges that stood already finished, are for the new harbour gates at Tralaig. That doesn't look like giving up the Rhinns. No, no! There'll be bloody work yet ere all's over."

For a little while longer Hugh MacKay remained in the forge. Then he faced the storm once more to reach Dunyvaig, but before he left he handed his dirk to his cousin with the request:

"Put an edge on that to bite through the breast bone of a renegade! MacDonald Terreagh that made all the trouble in Jura is with MacLean at Loch Gorm Castle. I wonder he dare set a foot in Islay. Whatever befalls, peace or war, his life is forfeit. A sharp edge! See to it, Duncan."

The scowl that crossed the lieutenant's face at the mention of MacDonal Terreagh soon vanished, for despite his wet condition, he was in great good humour, and quietly laughed to himself on the way to the castle.

At Dunyvaig, as became his office, he turned a strict eye towards the guards of the outer defences before entering the castle. He went into the castle yard through a gateway in the strong wall which divided the out-buildings and offices from the fortress proper, and a massive spike-studded iron gate clanged behind him. A portcullis was raised to admit him into a passage as long as the castle walls were thick, at the end of

509 which was a heavy wooden door capable of proving a serious obstacle to a besieger. It was so thick and strong and fortified, moreover, with crossbar work of iron on either side, as to defy anything but gunpowder. Now it stood wide, permitting MacKay to enter a hall occupied by fighting-men and

servants.

Addressing a brief question to the guard, the lieutenant called a ghillie to light him to the chief. Prompt to obey, the servant seized a lighted cresset, and led the way up the castle stairs. After him went MacKay just as he was, his wet garments leaving a dripping trail behind him. At length the ghillie stopped before the door of a room from which came loud uproarious laughter. It seemed that Sir Angus MacDonald shared the good humour that possessed his lieutenant.

With a word MacKay dismissed the servant, but ere he sought his chief he walked softly a little way up the passage, then pausing listened to a woman's voice singing a Hebridean lay in tones rich, full, and passionate, that thrilled him through and through, till his very inmost being vibrated in sympathy. He waited, motionless, until the verse was finished, and then with a wistful glance in the direction whence the music came, and a sorrowful shake of his head, returned to the chief's apartment and entered.

It was the same room in which MacDonald had welcomed his Irish cousin and the Earl of Lindisfarne to his stronghold. A huge fire roared upon the hearth, for without it, despite the season of the year, Dunyvaig would have been damp and chill. The thickness of the castle walls did not permit the warmth of Summer sunbeam to penetrate: now they scarcely allowed a murmur of the Summer storm to enter. But the deep boom of the surf could not be kept out. It resounded in sonorous, long-sustained note during the intervals of human speech. Nor could the wind be wholly excluded, though its music was hushed. Stray draughts agitated the hangings. Sir Angus and Lindisfarne were seated one each side of the fire, before which was drawn a table that bore, besides the candles, that gave light to the room, horn drinking-cups rimmed with silver, and a measure of strong drink with which to replenish them.

"What news, Hugh?" cried the chief, turning an attentive ear to his lieutenant.

MacKay saluted, and began his report, while the rain-drops. falling from his plaid formed a pool in a hollow of the irregular stone floor.

VOL. XLII.-No. 495

35

"I left them five hours ago at Knock Angle," he concluded; "they ought to be within two hours of their journey's end." And that?" questioned MacDonald.

"Is within Dun Brolchain, Sir Angus," answered the lieutenant quietly, but not without an expectant glance at his chief.

If MacKay thought his words would have an effect on MacDonald, he was not disappointed. Sir Angus started and stared in amazement at him.

"

"The haunted fort!" he exclaimed with a sudden frown. 'Is this a madman's trick, MacKay? Not one of them will stop the night within it!"

"It was their own choice, Sir Angus," replied the lieutenant calmly. Not one of them would stay the night alone within the fort, but where there are two hundred, they'll forget the ghosts that haunt the Dun. The worst they'll have to fear is a wet skin, and to mend that, they took a good supply of usquebaugh. There'll be neither goblins nor bogles, nor other spirits in Dun Brolchain to-night, unless it be the good spirits in the men's stomachs; and enough of that kind would make them face the De'il himself, if he gave them a call! ”

There's truth in what you say, MacKay; and now that I think of it, the Dun's the safest place. No one is likely to stumble up against them there, and they can lie snug until they're wanted. But your own skin's wet enough. Come, MacKay, fill up a cup of brandy and give us a toast!" Nothing loath, the lieutenant poured out a generous dram. Confusion to MacLean, and the Rhinns to MacDonald !"

he cried aloud, and drained his cup.

"Amen!" cried Sir Angus fervently as he and his guest proceeded to honour the sentiment.

"The last laugher laughs longest," said MacDonald, when MacKay of the Rhinns had withdrawn, " and it's my turn now, Lindisfarne. MacLean thought himself clever when he had me safe in Duart dungeon and got the promise of the Rhinns before he'd let me out. Oh, he's clever enough with his Edinburgh lawyer and his parchment bonds! But what avails a promise given under compulsion?"

Sir Angus and the English earl sat over their brandy till late in the night, little thinking that MacLean, whose fate they were discussing, was at that very time partaking of the same French liqueur In the hut of the Soothsayer.

CHAPTER XXI

THE TEMPTING OF MACKAY

WHEN the door of the chief's room closed behind the lieutenant, MacKay heard his name called softly down the dim passage. Turning quickly round he saw a maid-servant coming towards him.

"My lady bid me wait for you and tell you to come to her," she said.

A simple message. Yet it caused the lieutenant a strange throbbing in his breast, such as never had troubled him before. He looked down instinctively at his dress.

The girl, understanding his look, and perhaps from the sudden agitation that seized him and which he could not wholly conceal, guessing what he dared not admit even to himself, exclaimed: My lady waits, and it's you she wants to see, not your best plaid."

"But, Mary lassie," he objected, "is this plaid fit for the eyes of the lady Muriel?"

Ah! Is that the way the wind sets?" said Mary to herself; but she was too clever to let him see the extent of her knowledge.

"It's not the lady Muriel who requires you, but the lady Ella, to hear the latest news of bonnie Hector MacLean. No need to dress up for her!" She could not resist one little word at his expense.

Then, seeing a scowl cross his face, and guessing the reason of it she added quickly: "You need not scowl at me, Hugh MacKay; I'm not afraid of MacDonald's lieutenant. Come, follow me to the lady Ella's room."

She turned from him and went along the passage. Drawing aside a heavy curtain she stood waiting for MacKay in a shaft of bright light, a winsome lassie with laughing eyes fixed critically on him.

The lieutenant, without another thought of his appearance, and without as much as a glance at the girl's pretty figure, passed into the presence of Ella MacDonald.

The apartment was furnished with a degree of refinement quite out of keeping with the rugged exterior of Dunyvaig, for MacDonald spared neither trouble nor expense to add to the comfort of his daughters. Instead of the crude arrangements that might have been expected among the "Hebridean bar

barians," as the inhabitants of the Isles were termed upon the Mainland, furniture of curious and elaborate design that would not have been out of place in a royal palace, was set about the room, and the bare chilliness of the walls was concealed by heavy hangings of silk and velvet from the looms of the rich colour-loving South. Rugs and skins were spread about the floor.

Many a richly-laden ship was cast ashore in Islay, and after a night of storm few or none remained to take accounting of her cargo. From such MacDonald got much of the gear that went to make a soft lining for his castle, and without which Dunyvaig would have been indeed a rough nest.

Ella MacDonald was seated in a large semi-circular armchair well supplied with cushions, and one fair arm supported her head with its wealth of loosely flowing golden hair that reached far below her waist. Her attitude was one of dejection and, as she raised her head at the lieutenant's coming, MacKay thought that her face showed traces of tears.

Lighted candles in silver candlesticks stood upon a table near her, and a book that had slipped unheeded from her lay face downwards at her feet.

The lieutenant doffed his bonnet and bowed low, as the young lady murmured a word or two of greeting.

"Be seated," she said, pointing to a chair, and MacKay obeyed awkwardly enough. He would have preferred to stand. He felt himself strangely out of place in that luxurious room.

"In what can I serve you, lady?" he asked, for Ella MacDonald, biting her lips and nervously winding and unwinding a tress of hair round her fingers, seemed to be labouring under some suppressed excitement, and apparently hesitated how to make known her wishes.

She looked at MacKay. "I know you to be deeply attached to my father. Does that devotion extend to his daughter? The lieutenant's eyes fell; his thoughts flew to the lady Muriel and his cheeks burned.

"Never doubt it, lady!" he exclaimed with such fervour that Ella, smiling faintly, went on with more assurance.

"Prove it, then, good Hugh. Stay!" as, beginning to feel vaguely uneasy, he was about to speak. "Answer me truly," she said, leaning forward and speaking quickly and anxiously," and think not that I am ignorant of what is going But I wish to have it from your own lips. What is about to happen? Where marched those men in battle array who

on.