the beast, and be on and awa' to Mucklestane wi' the first

skreigh o' morning."
"And what for no the night, Hobbie," said Harry, "and I will ride

wi' ye?"
"My naig is tired," said Hobbie.

"Ye may take mine, then," said John.
"But I am a wee thing wearied mysell."

"You wearied?" said Harry; "shame on ye! I have kend ye keep
the saddle four-and-twenty hours thegither, and ne'er sic a word

as weariness in your wame."
"The night's very dark," said Hobbie, rising and looking through

the casement of the cottage; "and, to speak truth, and shame the
deil, though Elshie's a real honest fallow, yet somegate I would

rather take daylight wi' me when I gang to visit him."
This frank avowal put a stop to further argument; and Hobbie,

having thus compromised matters between the rashness of his
brother's counsel, and the timid cautions which he received from

his grandmother, refreshed himself with such food as the cottage
afforded; and, after a cordialsalutation all round, retired to

the shed, and stretched himself beside his trusty palfrey. His
brothers shared between them some trusses of clean straw,

disposed in the stall usually occupied by old Annaple's cow; and
the females arranged themselves for repose as well as the

accommodations of the cottage would permit.
With the first dawn of morning, Hobbie arose; and, having rubbed

down and saddled his horse, he set forth to Mucklestane-Moor. He
avoided the company of either of his brothers, from an idea that

the Dwarf was most propitious to those who visited him alone.
"The creature," said he to himself, as he went along, "is no

neighbourly; ae body at a time is fully mair than he weel can
abide. I wonder if he's looked out o' the crib o' him to gather

up the bag o' siller. If he hasna done that, it will hae been a
braw windfa' for somebody, and I'll be finely flung.--Come,

Tarras," said he to his horse, striking him at the same time with
his spur, "make mair fit, man; we maun be first on the field if

we can."
He was now on the heath, which began to be illuminated by the

beams of the rising sun; the gentle declivity which he was
descending presented him a distinct, though distant view, of the

Dwarf's dwelling. The door opened, and Hobbie witnessed with his
own eyes that phenomenon which he had frequently heard mentioned.

Two human figures (if that of the Dwarf could be termed such)
issued from the solitary abode of the Recluse, and stood as if in

converse together in the open air. The taller form then stooped,
as if taking something up which lay beside the door of the hut,

then both moved forward a little way, and again halted, as in
deep conference. All Hobbie's superstitious terrors revived on

witnessing this'spectacle. That the Dwarf would open his
dwelling to a mortal guest, was as improbable as that any one

would choose voluntarily to be his nocturnal visitor; and, under
full conviction that he beheld a wizardholdingintercourse with

his familiar spirit, Hobbie pulled in at once his breath and his
bridle, resolved not to incur the indignation of either by a

hasty intrusion on their conference. They were probably aware of
his approach, for he had not halted for a moment before the Dwarf

returned to his cottage; and the taller figure who had
accompanied him, glided round the enclosure of the garden, and

seemed to disappear from the eyes of the admiring Hobbie.
"Saw ever mortal the like o' that!" said Elliot; "but my case is

desperate, sae, if he were Beelzebub himsell, I'se venture down
the brae on him."

Yet, notwithstanding his assumed courage, he slackened his pace,
when, nearly upon the very spot where he had last seen the tall

figure, he discerned, as if lurking among the long heather, a
small black rough-looking object, like a terrier dog.

"He has nae dog that ever I heard of," said Hobbie, "but mony a
deil about his hand--lord forgie me for saying sic a word!--It

keeps its grund, be what it like--I'm judging it's a badger; but
whae kens what shapes thae bogies will take to fright a body? it

will maybe start up like a lion or a crocodile when I come
nearer. I'se e'en drive a stage at it, for if it change its

shape when I'm ower near, Tarras will never stand it; and it will
be ower muckle to hae him and the deil to fight wi' baith at

ance."
He thereforecautiously threw a stone at the object, which

continued motionless. "It's nae living thing, after a'," said
Hobbie, approaching, "but the very bag o' siller he flung out o'

the window yesterday! and that other queer lang creature has
just brought it sae muckle farther on the way to me. He then

advanced and lifted the heavy fur pouch, which was quite full of
gold. "Mercy on us!" said Hobbie, whose heart fluttered between

glee at the revival of his hopes and prospects in life, and
suspicion of the purpose for which this assistance was afforded

him---"Mercy on us! it's an awfu' thing to touch what has been
sae lately in the claws of something no canny, I canna shake

mysell loose o' the belief that there has been some jookery-
paukery of Satan's in a' this; but I am determined to conduct

mysell like an honest man and a good Christian, come o't what
will."

He advancedaccordingly to the cottage door, and having knocked
repeatedly without receiving any answer, he at length elevated

his voice and addressed the inmate of the hut. "Elshie! Father
Elshie! I ken ye're within doors, and wauking, for I saw ye at

the door-cheek as I cam ower the bent; will ye come out and speak
just a gliff to ane that has mony thanks to gie ye?--It was a'

true ye tell'd me about Westburnflat; but he's sent back Grace
safe and skaithless, sae there's nae ill happened yet but what

may be suffered or sustained;--Wad ye but come out a gliff; man,
or but say ye're listening?--Aweel, since ye winna answer, I'se

e'en proceed wi' my tale. Ye see I hae been thinking it wad be a
sair thing on twa young folk, like Grace and me, to put aff our

marriage for mony years till I was abroad and came back again wi'
some gear; and they say folk maunna take booty in the wars as

they did lang syne, and the queen's pay is a sma' matter; there's
nae gathering gear on that--and then my grandame's auld--and my

sisters wad sit peengin' at the ingle-side for want o' me to ding
them about--and Earnscliff, or the neighbourhood, or maybe your

ainsell, Elshie, might want some good turn that Hob Elliot could
do ye--and it's a pity that the auld house o' the Heugh-foot

should be wrecked a'thegither. Sae I was thinking--but deil hae
me, that I should say sae," continued he, checking himself, "if I

can bring mysell to ask a favour of ane that winna sae muckle as
ware a word on me, to tell me if he hears me speaking till him."

"Say what thou wilt--do what thou wilt," answered the Dwarf from
his cabin, "but begone, and leave me at peace."

"Weel, weel," replied Elliot, "since ye are willing to hear me,
I'se make my tale short. Since ye are sae kind as to say ye are

content to lend me as muckle siller as will stock and plenish the
Heugh-foot, I am content, on my part, to accept the courtesy wi'

mony kind thanks; and troth, I think it will be as safe in my
hands as yours, if ye leave it flung about in that gate for the

first loon body to lift, forbye the risk o' bad neighbours that
can win through steekit doors and lockfast places, as I can tell

to my cost. I say, since ye hae sae muckle consideration for me,
I'se be blithe to accept your kindness; and my mother and me

(she's a life-renter, and I am fiar, o' the lands o' Wideopen)
would grant you a wadset, or an heritable bond, for the siller,

and to pay the annual rent half-yearly; and Saunders Wyliecoat to
draw the bond, and you to be at nae charge wi' the writings."

"Cut short thy jargon, and begone," said the Dwarf; "thy
loquacious bull-headed honesty makes thee a more intolerable