Endeavouring, therefore, to assume his usual cajoling tone, though internally incensed, he begged "his goot friend Maister Edie Ochiltrees would lead the way, and assured him of his acquiescence in all such an excellent friend could propose." "Aweel, aweel, then," said Edie, "tak gude care o' your feet amang the lang grass and the loose stones.

I wish we may get the light keepit in neist, wi' this fearsome wind--but there's a blink o' moonlight at times." Thus saying, old Edie, closely accompanied by the adept, led the way towards the ruins, but presently made a full halt in front of them.
"Ye're a learned man, Mr.Dousterdeevil, and ken muckle o' the marvellous works o' nature--Now, will ye tell me ae thing ?--D'ye believe in ghaists and spirits that walk the earth ?--d'ye believe in them, ay or no ?" "Now, goot Mr.Edie," whispered Dousterswivel, in an expostulatory tone of voice, "is this a times or a places for such a questions ?" "Indeed is it, baith the tane and the t'other, Mr.Dustanshovel; for I maun fairly tell ye, there's reports that auld Misticot walks.

Now this wad be an uncanny night to meet him in, and wha kens if he wad be ower weel pleased wi' our purpose of visiting his pose ?" "Alle guten Geister"-- muttered the adept, the rest of the conjuration being lost in a tremulous warble of his voice,--"I do desires you not to speak so, Mr.Edie; for, from all I heard dat one other night, I do much believes"-- "Now I," said Ochiltree, entering the chancel, and flinging abroad his arm with an air of defiance, "I wadna gie the crack o' my thumb for him were he to appear at this moment: he's but a disembodied spirit, as we are embodied anes." "For the lofe of heavens," said Dousterswivel, "say nothing at all neither about somebodies or nobodies!" "Aweel," said the beggar (expanding the shade of the lantern), "here's the stane, and, spirit or no spirit, I'se be a wee bit deeper in the grave;" and he jumped into the place from which the precious chest had that morning been removed.

After striking a few strokes, he tired, or affected to tire, and said to his companion, "I'm auld and failed now, and canna keep at it--time about's fair play, neighbour; ye maun get in and tak the shule a bit, and shule out the loose earth, and then I'll tak turn about wi' you." Dousterswivel accordingly took the place which the beggar had evacuated, and toiled with all the zeal that awakened avarice, mingled with the anxious wish to finish the undertaking and leave the place as soon as possible, could inspire in a mind at once greedy, suspicious, and timorous.
Edie, standing much at his ease by the side of the hole, contented himself with exhorting his associate to labour hard.

"My certie! few ever wrought for siccan a day's wage; an it be but--say the tenth part o' the size o' the kist, No.