When it came to the question of starting out again, he found it less
easy than he had anticipated.

"Ye'll nae think o' leavin' this hoose the nicht!" the old man
declared, when, after his supper and a pipe, Bonar touched on the
subject.

"It's an impossibeelity for ony mon as disna' ken the hill yon to find
his wye up or doon in siclike weather," Jock added grimly.

Bonar knew how true was Jock's remark. Nevertheless, he felt very
uncomfortable at the prospect of remaining there for the night, as
Davie had proposed. Did they know who he was? It seemed most
unlikely, with the kindness they had shown him! Yet he could not stay,
he told himself, under false pretences.

"It's more than kind of you to treat me like this," he said. "I could
never have expected such a friendly welcome to one who is a perfect
stranger to you all."

"Nae altogither a stranger, whateever," returned Davie--and for a
moment there was ever so slight a suspicion of a twinkle in his kindly
old eyes. "Ye're the new gauger we've haird sae muckle aboot, I'm
thinkin'."

"Quite so," stammered Bonar, rather shamefacedly, "and--it's really
very good of you to show me so much kindness."

"Na, na, sir," said the old man warmly. "I should be wantin' in human
feelin' if I wes to turn a dog oot sic a nicht--still mair a