Three Boys Part 70

"She thocht Dirk would ha' takken it up," said Tavish slowly. "She's na the dog she thocht."

"Don't give up yet, father. I feel sure."

"Hey, she's cot it!" cried Tavish wildly, as a loud baying bark came from Dirk.

"Yes, come on! He has got it now," cried Kenneth, and he dashed on at a sharp trot right into the darkness.

"Keep up with him, Tavish," cried The Mackhai. "Steady, Ken, steady."

"All right, father," came from far ahead.

"Oh ay, sir, she'll be close aifter the young Chief. Hark! d'ye hear?

Dirk's got the scent, and she'll rin him doon."

Right away in the darkness the low barking of the dog could be heard, for Dirk had indeed got on the scent, and, with the wondrous faculty of his kind, he was trotting steadily on over the gra.s.s and heather, nose down, tail high, and not for a moment halting in his quest.

Hour after hour the hunt went on, no little exertion being needed to keep within hearing of the dog, who followed Max's trail right on and on--a devious, wandering trail, right along to the narrow gully where the dark loch lay. After coming to a halt several times, where Max had waded into patches of bog, and also where he had stepped over the precipitous place and fallen a few feet, to slide and scramble down some distance farther, Dirk picked up the trail again, and trotted on.

These halts gave those who followed time to catch up, and there were so many faults along the edge of the dark, narrow loch, that Kenneth and Tavish were together and pretty close behind.

"Think o' ta laddie finding his way doon here," said the forester.

"You don't think he can have slipped in anywhere?" whispered Kenneth.

"It's a nasty place, even by day."

"Oh ay, laddie, and ta fush are sma' and hard to get. She'd get richt alang, though. Noo, which way wad she gang--up by ta waterfa', or awa'

through ta wee bit burnie?"

"I don't know, Tavvy," panted Kenneth; "but we ought to be near him now."

"Nay; she'll be a lang gate yet, my bairn. Air ye there, sir?"

"Yes; go on," came from behind; and the rough tramp was continued, till the forester cried,--

"She's gaed up ta burnie."

"Why, Tavvy, there's a light there! What light's that?"

"Licht?" said Tavish innocently. "Hey, there's a licht!"

"What can it be?"

"Only a shepherd's bothy."

"There is no shepherd's bothy up here on the Clandougal estate, Tavvy."

"Maybe it's some Southron laird had a cot made for him to fush ta loch."

"Nonsense, Tavvy! and if it was so, no one would be having a big fire there at this time of night."

"Whush, laddie!"

"But--I know! Why, Tavvy, it's a still!"

"Whus.h.!.+ Here, lat's ca' back ta tog."

"Nonsense! He has gone right on. Hurray! we've found him. Max is sure to be up there by the fire."

"Ta laddies wadna lat her stop," muttered Tavish; "put we'll pe hafin'

trouble wi' 'em. Hearken to ta tog!"

"Why, Ken, look," came from behind, as the dog's barking went echoing along the narrow little glen; "that must be a still. Eh, Tavish?"

"Aw'm thinking maybe it sall be a still, sir," said Tavish innocently, as his master closed up.

"Maybe?" said The Mackhai sharply; "and I'm thinking you knew it was there, and have tasted the stuff."

Tavish was silent, and they all plodded on toward the distant light, the dog's track being straight for it naturally, for the only way up the little glen was by the burn.

"Ta licht's gone," muttered Tavish. "She'll be thinking they've heert ta tog, and thrown watter upo' it, and we shall be in trouble pefore we've done."

"Hallo!" cried Kenneth; "the light's out."

The Mackhai called attention to the fact at the same moment.

"Keep close to me, Kenneth," he said. "But no they would not dare," he said to himself.

Tavish turned to his master.

"Shall she fecht?"

"There will be no need, my man. Get on. We shall find the boy has taken shelter there."

Tavish shook his head, and muttered to himself.

"What is it, Tavvy?" said Kenneth.

"If it's ta whusky they're makking aboon yonder, ta young chentleman isna there."

"Well, we shall soon see about that," cried Kenneth, pressing on in the most reckless way, and only saving himself from several falls by his activity, for he went among the broken rocks like a goat.

A loud burst of barking lent speed to his feet; and ten minutes later the party were up in front of the rough building, from which came to their nostrils the strong reek of steam, telling that water had been thrown upon the fire they had seen.

There was no answer to their calls, but Dirk was barking furiously inside, and Kenneth at once entered, Tavish following to light a match; but there was no one within, only enough visible to show what business had been going on.

"Any one about here?" shouted Kenneth, after they had satisfied themselves that Max was not to be seen.

But there was no reply, and Tavish shouted in Gaelic.