If all Scotch lads take the tide of life at the flood as you do, small blame to ye for making your fortunes; and well ye deserve it." "There's not a doubt about it," replied Alister complacently.

"And I'll tell ye more.

Find me arty grand work, if it's at the other end of the airth, whether it's digging a dyke in the desert, or bigging a mountain up to the moon, and I'll find ye an Aberdeenshire man not far from the head of it." Dennis's face seemed to twitch with a dozen quick thoughts and smiles, as Alister turned away to meet his new employer, who had just appeared on the stelling.
"They have wonderful qualities," he said gently.

"I envy them, I can tell ye, Jack.

What's an idle lout like me good for?
Will I ever be able to make a home for myself, or for any one else?
_They do!_" He spoke earnestly, and then suddenly relapsing into an imitation of Alister's accent, which was his latest joke, he added with twinkling eyes, "and they save a _wee_ in wages to their _ain_ trumpeters--_whiles!_" And having drawled out the word "whiles" to the uttermost possible length, he suddenly began to snap his fingers and dance an Irish jig upon the wooden planks of the stelling.