All at once we heard a lonesome sound; and my heart began to play pit-pat--my skin grew all rough, like a pouked chicken--and I felt as if I did not know what was the matter with me.

It was only a false alarm, however, being the warning of the clock; and, in a minute or two thereafter, the bell struck ten.

Oh, but it was a lonesome and dreary sound! Every chap went through my breast like the dunt of a fore-hammer.
Then up and spak the red-headed laddie:--"It's no fair; anither should hae come by this time.

I wad rin awa hame, only I am frighted to gang out my lane .-- Do ye think the doup of that candle wad carry i' my cap ?" "Na, na, lad; we maun bide here, as we are here now .-- Leave me alane?
Lord safe us! and the yett lockit, and the bethrel sleeping with the key in his breek pouches!--We canna win out now though we would," answered I, trying to look brave, though half frightened out of my seven senses:--"Sit down, sit down; I've baith whisky and porter wi' me.

Hae, man, there's a cawker to keep your heart warm; and set down that bottle," quoth I, wiping the saw-dust affn't with my hand, "to get a toast; I'se warrant it for Deacon Jaffrey's best brown stout." The wind blew higher, and like a hurricane; the rain began to fall in perfect spouts; the auld kirk rumbled and rowed, and made a sad soughing; and the branches of the bourtree behind the house, where auld Cockburn that cut his throat was buried creaked and crazed in a frightful manner; but as to the roaring of the troubled waters, and the bumming in the lum- head, they were past all power of description.