'I tell ye, it cannae be; they droon withoot it.

Ha'e,' holding out the bottle, 'tak' a sowp.' I was about to refuse, but Rorie touched me as if in warning; and indeed I had already thought better of the movement.

I took the bottle, therefore, and not only drank freely myself, but contrived to spill even more as I was doing so.

It was pure spirit, and almost strangled me to swallow.

My kinsman did not observe the loss, but, once more throwing back his head, drained the remainder to the dregs.