story, by taking up the adventures of another of the tharacters, and bringing them down to the point at which we have left those of Jeanie Deans. It is not, perhaps, the most artificial way of telling a story, but it has the advantage of sparing the necessity of resuming what a knitter (if stocking-looms have left such a person in the land) might call our dropped stitches; a labour in which the author generally toils much, without getting credit for his pains.

"I could risk a sma' wad," said the clerk to the magistrate, "that this rascal Rateliffe, if he were insured of his neck's safety, could do more than ony ten of our police-people and constables, to help us to get out of this scrape of Porteous's. He is weel acquent wi' a' the smugglers, thieves, and banditti about Edinburgh; and, indeed, he may be called the father of a' the misdoers in Scotland, for he has passed amang them for these twenty years by the name of Daddie Rat."

"A bonny sort of a scoundrel," replied the magistrate, to expect a place under the city!"

"Begging your honour's pardon," said the city's procurator-fiscal, upon whom the duties of superintendent of police devolved, "Mr. Fairscrieve is perfectly in the right. It is just sic as Ratcliffe that the town needs in my department; an' if sae be that he's disposed to turn his knowledge to the city service, ye'll no find a better man.-Ye'll get nae saints to be searchers for uncustomed goods, or for thieves and sic like;-and your decent sort of men, religious professors, and broken tradesmen, that are put into the like o' sic trust, can do nae gude ava. They are feared for this, and they are scrupulous about that, and they are na free to tell a lie, though it may be for the benefit of the city; and they dinna like to be out at irregular hours, and in a dark cauld night, and they like a clout ower the croun far waur; and sae between the fear o' God, and the fear o' man, and the fear o' getting a sair throat, or sair banes, there's a dozen o our city-folk, baith waiters, and officers, and constables, that can find out naething but a wee bit skalduddery for the benefit of the Kirk-treasurer. Jock Porteous, that's stiff and stark, puir fallow, was worth a dozen o' them; for he never had ony fears, or scruples, or doubts, or conscience, about ony thing four honours bade him."

"He was a gude servant o' the town," said the Sailie, "though he was an ower free-living man. But if you really think this rascal Ratcliffe could do as ony service in discovering these malefactors, I would insure him life, reward, and promotion. It's an awsome thing this mischance for the city, Mr. Fairscrieve. It will be very ill taen wi' abune stairs. Queen Caroline, God bless her! is a woman-at least I judge sae, and it'e nae treason to speak my mind sae far-and ye maybe ken as weel as I do, for ye hae a housekeeper, though ye arena a married man, that women are wilfu', and downa bide a slight. And it will sound ill in her ears, that sic a confused mistake suld come to pass, and naebody sae muckle as to be put into the Tolbooth about it."

"If ye thought that, sir," said the procurator-fiscal, we could easily clap into the prison a few blackguards upon suspicion. It will have a gude active look, and Thae aye plenty on my list, that wadna be a hair the waur of a week or twa's imprisonment; and if ye thought it no strictly just, ye could be just the easier wi' them the neist time they did ony thing to deserve it; they arena the sort to be lang o' geeing ye an opportunity to clear scores wi' them on that account.

the preacher himsell wad be heading the mob, though the time has been, they hae been as forward in bruilzie ns their neighbours."

"But these times are lang by," said Mr. Sharpit law. "In my father's time, there was mair search for silenced ministers about the Bow-head and the Covenant-close, and all the tents of Kedar, as they ca'd the dwellings o' the godly in those days, than there's now for thieves and vagabonds in the Laigh Calton and the back o' the Canongate. But that time's weel by, an it bide. And if the Bailie will get me directions and authority from the Provost, I'l speak wi' Daddie Rat mysell; for I'm thinking I'll make mair out o' him than ye'll do."

Mr. Sharpitlaw, being necessarily a man of high trust, was accordingly empowered, in the course of the day, to make such arrangements, as might seem in the emergency most advantageous for the Good Town. He went to the jail accordingly, and saw Ratcliffe in private.

The relative positions of a police-officer and a professed thief bear a different complexion, according to circumstances. The most obvious simile of a hawk pouncing upon his prey is often least applicable. Sometimes the guardian of justice has the air of a cat watching a mouse, and, while he suspends his purpose of springing upon the pilferer, takes care so to calculate his motions that he shall not get beyond his power. Sometimes, more passive still, he uses the art of fascination ascribed to the rattle-snake, and contents himself with glaring on the victim, through all his devious flutterings; certain that his terror, confusion, and disorder of ideas, will bring him into his jaws at last. The interview between Ratcliffe and Sharpitlaw had an aspect different from all these. They sate for five minutes silent, on opposite sides of a small table, and looked fixedly at each other, with a sharp, knowing, and alert cast of countenance, not unmingled with an inclination to laugh, and resembled more than any thing else, two dogs, who, preparing for a game at romps, are seen to couch down, and remain in that posture for a little time, watching each other's movements, and waiting which shall begin the game.

So, Mr. Ratcliffe," said the officer, conceiving it suited his dignity to speak first, "you give up business, I find?"

"Yes, sir," replied Ratcliffe; "I shall be on that lay nae mair-and I think that will save your folk some trouble, Mr. Sharpitlaw?"

"Which Jock Dalgleish" (then finisher of the law in the Scottish metropolis) "wad save them as easily," returned the procurator-fiscal.

Ay; if I waited in the Tolbooth here to have him fit my cravat-but that's an idle way o' speaking, Mr. Sharpitlaw."

"Why, I suppose you know you are under sentence of death, Mr. Ratcliffe ?" replied Mr. Sharpitlaw.

Ay, so are a', as that worthy minister said in the Tolbooth Kirk the day Robertson wan off; but naebody kens when it will be executed. Gude faith, he had better reason to say sae than he dreamed of, be fore the play was played out that morning!"

"This Robertson," said Sharpitlaw, in a lower and something like a confidential tone, "d'ye ken, Rat-that is, can ye gie us ony inkling where he to be heard tell o' ?"

"Umph! that's singular, considering the company he kept."

"Fact, upon my honour and credit," said Ratcliffe, gravely. He keepit out o' our little bits of affairs, and that's mair than Wilson did; I hae dune business wi' Wilson afore now. But the lad will come on in time; there's nae fear o' him; naebody will live the life he has led, but what he'll come to sooner or later." Who or what is he, Ratcliffe? you know, I s pose?" said Sharpitlaw.

"Hu's better born, I judge, than he cares to let on¿ he's been a soldier, and he has been a play-actor, and I watna what he has been or hasna been, for as young as he is, sae that it had daffing and nonsense about it."

"I dinna ken." said Ratcliffe; "it's a queer way of beginning the trade of honesty-but deil ma care. Weel, then, I heard and saw him speak to the wenca Effie Deans, that's up there for child-murder." "The deil ye did? Rat, this is finding a mare's ler in the Park, and that was to meet wi' Jeanie Deans at Muschat's Cairn-whew! lay that and that thegither! As sure as I live he's been the father of the lassie's wean.'

"Ye may say that," said Ratcliffe, with a sardonic smile; "and," (touching his nose,) "a deevil amang the lasses.'

"

"Like enough," said Sharpitlaw. "Weel, Rateliffe, I'll no stand niffering wi' ye; ye ken the way hat favour's gotten in my office; ye maun be usefu'." Certainly, sir, to the best of my power-naething for naething-I ken the rule of the office," said the Ex-depredator.

"Now the principal thing in hand e'en now," said the official person, "is this job of Porteous's; an ye can gie us a lift-why, the inner turnkey's of fice to begin wi', and the captainship in time-ye understand my meaning?"

"Ay, troth do I, sir; a wink's as gude as a nod to a blind horse; but Jock Porteous's job-Lord help ye!-I was under sentence the haill time. God! but I couldna help laughing when I heard Jock skirling for mercy in the lads's hands! Mony a het skin ye hae gien me, neighbour, thought I, tak ye what's gaun time about's fair play; ye'll ken now what hanging's gude for."

"Come, come, this is all nonsense, Rat," said the procurator. "Ye canna creep out at that hole, lad; you must speak to the point, you understand me, if you want favour; gif-gaf makes gude friends, ye ken." "But how can I speak to the point, as your honour ca's it," said Ratcliffe, demurely, and with an air of great simplicity," when ye ken I was under sentence, and in the strong-room a' the while the job was going on ?"

"And how can we turn ye loose on the public again, Daddie Rat, unless ye do or say something to deserve it ?"

66

Well, then, d-n it!" answered the criminal, "since it maun be sae, I saw Geordie Robertson among the boys that brake the jail; I suppose that will do me some gude?"

"That's speaking to the purpose, indeed," said the office-bearer; "and now, Rat, where think ye we'll find him ?"

"Deil haet o' me kens," said Ratcliffe; "he'll no likely gang back to ony o' his auld howffs; he'll be off the country by this time. He has gude friends some gate or other, for a' the life he's led; he's been weel educate."

"He'll grace the gallows the better," said Mr. Sharpitlaw; "a desperate dog, to murder an officer of the city for doing his duty! Wha kens wha's turn it might be next?-But you saw him plainly ?" "As plainly as I see you."

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How was he dressed ?" said Sharpitlaw.

'I couldna weel see; something of a woman's bit nutch on his head; but ye never saw sic a ca'throw. Ane couldna hae een to a' thing."

"But did he speak to no one?" said Sharpitlaw. "They were a' speaking and gabbling through other," said Ratcliffe, who was obviously unwilling to carry his evidence further than he could possibly help.

"This will not do, Ratcliffe," said the procurator; you must speak out-out-out," tapping the table emphatically, as he repeated that impressive monosyllable.

"It's very hard, sir," said the prisoner; "and but for the under-turnkey's place"

There hae been waur guesses than that, I'm thinking," observed Ratcliffe, turning his quid o tobacco in his cheek, and squirting out the juice. "I heard something a while syne about his drawing up wi' a bonny quean about the Pleasaunts, and that it was a' Wilson could do to keep him frae marrying her." Here a city officer entered, and told Sharpitraw that they had the woman in custody whom he had directed them to bring before him.

"It's little matter now," said he, "the thing is taking another turn; however, George, ye may bring her in."

The officer retired, and introduced, upon his return a tall, strapping wench of eighteen or twenty, dressed fantastically, in a sort of blue riding-jacket, with tarnished lace, her hair clubbed like that of a man, a Highland bonnet, and a bunch of broken feathers, a riding-skirt (or petticoat) of scarlet camlet, embroidered with tarnished flowers. Her features were coarse and masculine, yet at a little distance, by dint of very bright wild-looking black eyes, an aquiline nose, and a commanding profile, appeared rather handsome. She flourished the switch she held in her hand, dropped a curtsy as low as a lady at a birthnight introduction, recovered herself seemingly ac cording to Touchstone's directions to Audrey, and opened the conversation without waiting till any. questions were asked.

"God gie your honour gude e'en, and mony o' them, bonny Mr. Sharpitlaw I-Gude e'en to ye, Daddie Ratton-they tauld me ye were hanged, man! or did ye get out o John Dalgleish's hands like half-hangit Maggie Dickson?"

"Whisht, ye daft jaud," said Ratcliffe, "and hear what's said to ye."

"Wi' a' my heart, Ratton. Great preferment for poor Madge to be brought up the street wi' a grand man, wi' a coat a' passemented wi' worsetlace, to speak wi' provosts, and bailies, and town-clerks, and prokitors, at this time o' day-and the haill town looking at me too-This is honour on earth for anes Ay, Madge," said Mr. Sharpitlaw, in a coaxing and ye're dressed out in your braws, I see; these are not your every-days' claiths ye have on." "Deil be in my fingers, then !" said Madge" Eh, sirs!" (observing Butler come into the apartment,) "there's a minister in the Tolbooth-wha will ca' it a graceless place now ?-I'se warrant he's in for the gude auld cause-but it's be nae cause o' mine," and off she went into a song

tone;

But that is Madge Wildfire, as she calls herself," said the man of law to Butler.

"Ay, ay," said Ratcliffe, "gude behaviour!-there's the deevil. And then it's waiting for dead folk's ahoon into the bargain."

"But Robertson's head will weigh something," said Sharpitlaw; "something gay and heavy, Rat; the town mann show cause-that's right and reason --and then yeil hae freom to enjoy your gear hoDestly."

tures for a minute)-" But I canna mind when that was-it was lang syne, at ony rate, and I'll ne'er fash my thumb about it.—

"I glance like the wildfire through country and town; I'm seen on the causeway-I'm seen on the down The lightning that flashes so bright and so free, Is scarcely so blithe or so bonny as me." "Haud your tongue, ye skirling limmer!" said the officer, who had acted as master of the ceremonies to

this extraordinary performer, and who was rather scandalized at the freedom of her demeanour before a person of Mr. Sharpitlaw's importance" haud your tongue, or I'se gie ye something to skirl for!" "Let her alone, George," said Sharpitlaw, "dinna put her out o' tune; I hae some questions to ask herBut first, Mr. Butler, take another look of her." "Do sae, minister-do sae," cried Madge; "I am as weel worth looking at as ony book in your aught. And I can say the single carritch, and the double carritch, and justification, and effectual calling, and the assembly of divines at Westminster, that is," (she added in a low tone,) "I could say them anes but it's lang syne--and ane forgets, ye ken." And poor Madge heaved another deep sigh.

"Weel, sir," said Mr. Sharpitlaw to Butler," what think ye now?",

"As I did before," said Butler; "that I never saw the poor demented creature in my life before." "Then she is not the person whom you said the rioters last night described as Madge Wildfire?" "Certainly not," said Butler. "They may be near the same height, for they are both tall, but I see little other resemblance."

"Their dress, then, is not alike?" said Sharpitlaw. "Not in the least," said Butler. "Madge, my bonny woman," said Sharpitlaw, in the same coaxing manner, what did ye do wi' your ilka-day's claise yesterday?"

"I dinna mind," said Madge. "Where was ye yesterday at c'en, Madge?" "I dinna mind ony thing about yesterday," answered Madge; "ae day is eneugh for ony body to wan ower wi at a time, and ower muckle sometimes."

But maybe, Madge, ye wad mind something about it, if I was to gie ye this half-crown?" said Sharpitlaw, taking out the piece of money.

"That might gar me laugh, but it couldna gar me mind."

"But, Madge," continued Sharpitlaw, "were I to send you to the wark-house in Leith Wynd, and gar Jock Dalgleish lay the tawse on your back".

"That wad gar me greet," said Madge, sobbing, "but it couldna gar me mind, ye ken."

"She is ower far past reasonable folk's motives, sir," said Ratcliffe, "to mind siller, or John Dalgleish, or the eat and nine tails either; but I think I could gar her tell us something."

Try her then, Ratcliffe," said Sharpitlaw, "for I am tired of her crazy pate, and be d-d to her.", "Madge," said Ratcliffe, hae ye ony joes now?" "An ony body ask ye, say ye dinna ken.-Set him to be speaking of my joes, anld Daddie Ratton!" "I dare say, ye hae deil ane?"

"See if I haena then," said Madge, with the toss of the head of affronted beauty there's Rob the Ranter, and Will Fleming, and then there's Geordie Robertson, lad-that's Gentleman Geordie-what think ye o' that?"

Rateliffe laughed, and, winking to the procuratorfiscal, pursued the inquiry in his own way. "But, Madge, the lads only like ye when ye hae on your braws-they wadna touch you wi' a pair o' tangs when you are in your auld ilka-day rags."

Ye're a leeing auld sorrow then," replied the fair one; for Gentle Geordie Robertson put my ilkaday's claise on his ain bonny sell yestreen, and gaed a' through the town wi' them; and gawsie and grand he lookit, like ony queen in the land."

"I dinna believe a word o't," said Ratcliffe, with another wink to the procurator. "Thae duds were a' o' the colour o' moonshine in the water, I'm thinking, Madge-The gown wad be a sky-blue scarlet, I'se warrant ye?"

It was nae sic thing," said Madge, whose unretentive memory let out, in the eagerness of contradiction, all that she would have most wished to keep Concealed, had her judgment been equal to her inclination. "It was neither scarlet nor sky-blue, but my ain auld brown threshie-coat of a short gown, and my mother's auld mutch, and my red rokelayand he gaed me a croun and a kiss for the use o' them, blessing on his bonny face-though been a dear one to me."

"And where did he change his clothes again, hinnie!" said Sharpitlaw, in his most conciliatory manner. "The procurator's spoiled a'," observed Ratcliffe, dryly.

And it was even so; for the question, put in so direct a shape, immediately awakened Madge to the propriety of being reserved upon those very topics on which Ratcliffe had indirectly seduced her to become communicative.

"What was't ye were speering at us, sir?" she resumed, with an appearance of stolidity so speedily assumed, as showed there was a good deal of knavery mixed with her folly.

"I asked you," said the procurator, "at what hour, and to what place, Robertson brought back your clothes."

แ Robertson ?-Lord haud a care o' us! what Robertson?"

"Why, the fellow we were speaking of, Gentle Geordie, as you call him."

"Geordie Gentle!" answered Madge, with wellfeigned amazement-"I dinna ken naebody they ca' Geordie Gentle."

"Come, my jo," said Sharpitlaw, "this will not do; you must tell us what you did with these clothes of yours."

Madge Wildfire made no answer, unless the question may seem connected with the snatch of a song Iwith which she indulged the embarrassed investigator:

"What did ye wi' the bridal ring-bridal ring-bridal ring? What did ye wi' your wedding ring, ye little cutty quean, DI I gied it till a sodger, a sodger, a sodger,

I gied it till a sodger, an auld true love o' mine, O."

Of all the mad women who have sung and said, since the days of Hamlet the Dane, if Ophelia be the most affecting, Madge Wildfire was the most provoking, The procurator-fiscal was in despair. "I'll take some measures with this d-d Bess of Bedlam," said he," that shall make her find her tongue."

"Wi' your favour, sir," said Ratcliffe,, " better let her mind settle a little-Ye have aye made out some thing."

"True," said the official person; "a brown short. gown mutch, red rokelay-that agrees with your Madge Wildfire, Mr. Butler ?" Butler agreed that it I did so. "Yes, there was a sufficient motive for tak ing this crazy creature's dress and name, while he was about such a job."

And I am free to say now," said Ratcliffe "When you see it has come out without you," interrupted Sharpitlaw.

"Just sae, sir," reiterated Ratcliffe. "I am free to say now, since it's come out otherwise, that these were the clothes I saw Robertson wearing last night in the jail, when he was at the head of the rioters."

"That's direct evidence," said Sharpitlaw; "stick to that, Rat-I will report favourably of you to the provost, for I have business for you to-night. It wears late; I must home and get a snack, and I'll be back in the evening. Keep Madge with you, Rat cliffe, and try to get her into a good tune again." So saying, he left the prison.

CHAPTER XVII.

And some they whistled-and some they sang,
And some did loudly say,
Whenever Lord Barnard's horn it blew,
"Away, Musgrave, away !"

Ballad of Little Musgrave.

WHEN the man of office returned to the Heart of Mid-Lothian, he resumed his conference with Rat cliffe, of whose experience and assistance he now held himself secure. "You must speak with this wench, Rat-this Effie Deans-you must sift her a wee bit; for as sure as a tether she will ken Robert. son's haunts-till her, Rat-till her, without delay." "Craving your pardon, Mr. Sharpitlaw," said t turnkey elect, "that's what I am not free to do.

Free to do, man? what the deil ails ye now 1-1 thought we had settled a' that." "I dinna ken, sir," said Ratcliffe; "I hae spoken

"That's according to the stuff they are made o', sir," replied Ratcliffe-" But to make a lang tale short, I canna undertake the job. It gangs against my conscience."

Your conscience, Rat?" said Sharpitlaw, with a sneer, which the reader will probably think very natural upon the occasion.

66 Ou ay, sir," answered Ratcliffe, calmly, "just my conscience; a'body has a conscience, though it may be ill wunnin at it. I think mine's as weel out o' the gate as maist folk's are; and yet it's just like the noop of my elbow, it whiles gets a bit dirl on a corner."

Weel, Rat," replied Sharpitlaw, "since ye are nice, I'll speak to the hussy mysell."

Sharpitlaw, accordingly, caused himself to be introduced into the little dark apartment tenanted by the unfortunate Effie Deans. The poor girl was seated on her little flock-bed, plunged in a deep reverie. Some food stood on the table, of a quality better than is usually supplied to prisoners, but it was untouched. The person under whose care she was more particularly placed said, "that sometimes she tasted naething from the tae end of the four-and-twenty hours to the t'other, except a drink of water."

Sharpitlaw took a chair, and, commanding the turnkey to retire, he opened the conversation, endeavouring to throw into his tone and countenance as much commiseration as they were capable of expressing, for the one was sharp and harsh, the other sly, acute, and selfish.

How's a' wi' ye, Effie?-How d'ye find yoursell, hinny ?"

A deep sigh was the only answer.

Are the folk civil to ye, Effie?-it's my duty to inquire."

Very civil, sir," said Effie, compelling herself to answer, yet hardly knowing what she said.

And your victuals," continued Sharpitlaw, in the same condoling tone-"do you get what you like ?→ or is there ony thing you would particularly fancy, as your health seems but silly?"

"It's a' very weel, sir, I thank ye," said the poor prisoner, in a tone how different from the sportive vivacity of those of the Lily of St. Leonard's!" it's a' very gude-ower gude for me.'

He must have been a great villain, Effie, who brought you to this pass," said Sharpitlaw.

The remark was dictated partly by a natural feeling, of which even he could not divest himself, though accustomed to practice on the passions of others, and keep a most heedful guard over his own, and partly by his wish to introduce the sort of conversation which might best serve his immediate purpose. In deed, upon the present occasion, these mixed motives of feeling and cunning harmonized together wonderfully; for, said Sharpitlaw to himself, the greater rogue Robertson is, the more will be the merit of bringing him to justice. "He must have been a great villain, indeed," he again reiterated; "and I wish I had the skelping o' him."

"I may blame mysell mair than him," said Effie; "I was bred up to ken better; but he, poor fellow,' -(she stopped.)

"Was a thorough blackguard a' his life, I dare Bay," said Sharpitlaw. "A stranger he was in this country, and a companion of that lawless vagabond, Wilson, I think, Effie?"

"It wad hae been dearly telling him that he had nger seen Wilson's face."

"That's very true that you are saying, Effie," said Sharpitlaw. "Where was't that Robertson and you were used to howff thegither? Somegate about the Laigh Calton, I am thinking."

The simple and dispirited girl had thus far followed Mr. Sharpitlaw's lead, because he had artfully adjusted his observations to the thoughts he was pretty

་་

'Advantage! I would be of some advantage to you if I could," said Sharpitlaw, in a soothing tone; "and I ken naething sae likely to serve ye, Effie, as gripping this rascal, Robertson."

"O dinna misca' him, sir, that never misca'd you! -Robertson ?-I am sure I had naething to say against ony man o' the name, and naething will I say'

'But if you do not heed your own misfortune, Effie, you should mind what distress he has brought on your family," said the man of law.

"O, Heaven help me!" exclaimed poor Effie-"My poor father my dear Jeanie-O, that's sairest to bide of a'! O, sir, if you hae ony kindness-if ye hae ony touch of compassion-for a' the folk I see here are as hard as the wa'-stanes-If ye wad but bid them let my sister Jeanie in the next time she ca's! for when I hear them put her awa frae the door, and canna climb up to that high window to see sae muckle as her gown-tail, it's like to pit me out o' my judgment." And she looked on him with a face of entreaty so earnest, yet so humble, that she fairly shook the steadfast purpose of his mind.

"You shall see your sister," he began, "if you'l tell me," then interrupting himself, he added, in a more hurried tone,-"no, d-n it, you shall see your sister whether you tell me any thing or no." So saying, he rose up and left the apartment.

When he had rejoined Ratcliffe, he observed, "You are right, Ratton; there's no making much of that lassie. But ae thing I have cleared that is, that Robertson has been the father of the bairn, and so I will wager a boddle it will be he that's to meet wi' Jeanie Deans this night at Muschat's Cairn, and there we'll nail him, Rat, or my name is not Gideon Sharpitlaw."

"But," said Ratcliffe, perhaps because he was in no hurry to see any thing which was like to be connected with the discovery and apprehension of Robertson, "an that were the case, Mr. Butler wad hae kend the man in the King's Park to be the same person wi' him in Madge Wildfire's claise, that headed the mob."

"That makes nae difference, man," replied Sharpitlaw" the dress, the light, the confusion, and maybe a touch o' a blackit cork, or a slake o' paint-hout, Ratton, I have seen ye dress your ainsell, that the deevil ye belang to durstna hae made oath t'ye." And that's true, too," said Ratcliffe.

"And besides, ye donnard carle," contined Sharpitlaw, triumphantly, "the minister did say, that he thought he knew something of the features of the birkie that spoke to him in the Park, though he could not charge his memory where or when he had seen them."

"It's evident, then, your honour will be right,” said Ratcliffe.

"Then, Rat, you and I will go with the party oursells this night, and see him in grips, or we are done wi' him."

"I seena muckle use I can be o' to your honour,” said Ratcliffe, reluctantly.

"Use?" answered Sharpitlaw-"You can guide the party-you ken the ground. Besides, I do not intend to quit sight o' you, my good friend, till I have him in hand."