let. upon this plundering expedition. "Neil Ronaldson," she said, " mark my words. There stands yonder a chest, from which the lid has been just prized off. Look it be brought down to your own house at Jarlshof, just as it now is. Beware of moving or touching the slightest article. He were better in his grave, that SO much as looks at the contents. I speak not for nought, nor in aught will I be disobeyed."

"Your pleasure shall be done, mother,” said Ronaldson. "I warrant we will not break bulk, since sic is your bidding."

Far behind the rest of the villagers, followed an old woman, talking to herself, and cursing her own decrepitude, which kept her the last of the party, yet pressing forward with all her might to get her share of the spoil.

When they met her, Mordaunt was astonished to recognize his father's old houskeeper."How now," he said, "Swertha, what make you so far from home?”

"Just e'en daikering out to look after my auld master and your honour," replied Swertha, who felt like a criminal caught in the manner;

for on more occasions than one, Mr Mertoun had intimated his high disapprobation of such excursions as she was at present engaged in.

But Mordaunt was too much engaged with his own thoughts to take much notice of her delin"Have quency. you seen my father ?" he said. "And that I have," replied Swertha-" The gude gentleman was ganging to hirsel himsell doun Erick's steps, whilk would have been the ending of him, that is in no way a crag's-man. Sae I e'en gat him wiled away hame-and I was Just seeking you that you may gang after him to the hall-house, for, to my thought, he is far frae weel."

“My father unwell ?" said Mordaunt, remembering the faintness he had exhibited at the commencement of that morning's walk.

"Far frae weel-far frae weel," groaned out Swertha, with a piteous shake of the head"white o' the gills-white o' the gills-and him to think of coming down the riva !”

"Return home, Mordaunt," said Norna, who was listening to what had passed. "I will see all that is necessary done for this man's relief, and

you will find him at the Ranzelman's, when you list to inquire. You cannot help him more than you already have done.”

Mordaunt felt this was true, and, commanding Swertha to follow him home instantly, betook himself to the path homeward.

Swertha hobbled reluctantly after her young master in the same direction, until she lost sight of him on his entering the cleft of the rock, then instantly turned about, muttering to herself, "Haste home, in good sooth ?-haste home, and lose the best chance of getting a new rokelay and owrelay that I have had these ten years? by my certie, na-Its seldom sic rich Godsends come on our coast-no since the Jenny and James came ashore in King Charlie's time."

So saying, she mended her pace as well as she could, and a willing mind making amends for frail limbs, posted on with wonderful dispatch to put in for her share of the spoil. She soon reached the beach, where the Ranzelman, stuffing his own pouches all the while, was exhorting the rest to part things fair, and be neighbourly, and

to give to the auld and helpless a share of what was going, which he charitably remarked, would bring a blessing on the shore, and send them "mair wrecks ero winter."

THE light foot of Mordaunt Mertoun was not long of bearing him to Jarlshof. He entered the house hastily, for what he himself had observed that morning, corresponded in some degree with the ideas which Swertha's tale was calculated to excite. He found his father, however, in the inner apartment, reposing himself after his fatigue; and his first question satisfied him that the good dame had practised a little imposition to get rid of them both.

"Where is this dying man whom you have so wisely ventured your own neck to relieve ?" said the elder Mertoun to the younger.