He approached the officer in command of the preparations; and Jock, pretending to be busy in carrying his boughs, managed to keep near so as to catch something of their conversation.
"Is everything prepared, Harris ?" "Yes, sir; another half hour's work will complete everything." "Do you think that is strong enough ?" the governor asked.
"Ay; strong enough for half a dozen of these half starved Scots." "One at a time will do," the governor said; and then, after a few more words, left the barn and rode off to Ayr.
Jock puzzled his head in vain over the meaning of the words he had heard.

The governor had while speaking been facing the door; but to what he alluded, or what it was that the officer had declared strong enough to hold half a dozen Scots, Jock could not in the slightest degree make out.

Still the words were strange and might be important; and he resolved, directly the preparations were finished and the place closed, so that there could be no chance of his learning more, to return himself to Archie instead of sending a message, as much might depend upon his repeating, word for word, what he had heard, as there was somehow, he felt, a significance in the manner in which the question had been asked and answered more than in the words themselves.
Cluny had all day endeavoured in vain to gather any news.

He had the day before sold some of his eggs and chickens at the governor's house, and towards evening he determined again to go thither and to make an attempt to enter the house, where he had heard that the officers of the garrison were to be entertained that evening at a banquet.

"If I could but overhear what is said there, my mind would be at rest.