"No' so bad. Your telegram was sent this mornin'. Auld Bill
took it in to Kirkmichael. That's the first thing. Second,
Thomas Yownie has took a party to get down the box from the station.
He got Mrs. Sempills' powny, and he took the box ayont the Laver by
the ford at the herd's hoose and got it on to the shore maybe a
mile ayont Laverfoot. He managed to get the machine up as far
as the water, but he could get no farther, for ye'll no' get a
machine over the wee waterfa' just before the Laver ends in the sea.
So he sent one o' the men back with it to Mrs. Sempill, and, since
the box was ower heavy to carry, he opened it and took the stuff
across in bits. It's a' safe in the hole at the foot o' the
Huntingtower rocks, and he reports that the rain has done it no harm.
Thomas has made a good job of it. Ye'll no' fickle Thomas Yownie."

"And what about your camp on the moor?"

"It was broke up afore daylight. Some of our things we've got with us,
but most is hid near at hand. The tents are in the auld wife's hen-hoose."
and he jerked his disreputable head in the direction of the back door.

"Have the tinklers been back?"

"Aye. They turned up about ten o'clock, no doubt intendin' murder.
I left Wee Jaikie to watch developments. They fund him sittin' on a
stone, greetin' sore. When he saw them, he up and started to run,
and they cried on him to stop, but he wouldn't listen. Then they
cried out where were the rest, and he telled them they were feared
for their lives and had run away. After that they offered to catch
him, but ye'll no' catch Jaikie in a hurry. When he had run round
about them till they were wappit, he out wi' his catty and got one