"_Con_foon' 't," cried Alec, and tore through shrubbery and hedge, the nearest way to the road, followed by Linkum, who even at full speed was not a match for Alec. Away they flew like the wind, along the well-beaten path to the town, over the footbridge that crossed the Glamour, and full speed up the hill to Willie Macwha, who, with a dozen or fifteen more, was anxiously waiting for the commander. They all had their book-bags, pockets, and arms filled with stones lately broken for mending the turnpike road, mostly granite, but partly whinstone and flint. One bag was ready filled for Alec. "Noo," said the General, in the tone of Gideon of old, "gin ony o' ye be fleyt at the brute, jist gang hame." "Ay! ay! General." But nobody stirred, for those who were afraid had slunk away the moment they saw Alec coming up the hill, like the avenger of blood. "Wha's watchin' her?" "Doddles, Gapy, and Goat." "Whaur was she last seen?" "Takin' up wi' anither tyke on the squaure." "Doddles 'll be at the pump, to tell whaur's the ither twa and the tyke." "Come along, then. This is hoo ye're to gang. We maunna a' gang thegither. Some o' ye--you three--doon the Back Wynd; you sax, up Lucky Hunter's Close; and the lave by Gowan Street; an' first at the pump bides for the lave." "Hoo are we to mak the attack, General?" "I'll gie my orders as the case may demand," said Alec. And away they shot. The muffled sounds of the feet of the various companies as they thundered past upon the snow, roused the old wives dozing over their knitting by their fires of spent oak-bark; and according to her temper would be the remark with which each startled dame turned again to her former busy quiescence:--"Some mischeef o' the loons!" "Some ploy o' the laddies!" "Some deevilry o' thae rascals frae Malison's school!" They reached the square almost together, and found Doddles at the pump; who reported that Juno had gone down the inn-yard, and Gapey and Goat were watching her. Now she must come out to get home again, for there was no back-way; so by Alec's orders they dispersed a little to avoid observation, and drew gradually between the entrance of the inn-yard, and the way Juno would take to go home. The town was ordinarily lighted at night with oil lamps, but moonlight and snow had rendered them for some time unnecessary. "Here she is! Here she is!" cried several at once in a hissing whisper of excitement. "Lat at her!" "Haud still!" cried Alec. "Bide till I tell ye. Dinna ye see there's Lang Tam's dog wi' her, an' he's done naething. Ye maunna punish the innocent wi' the guilty." A moment after the dogs took their leave of each other, and Juno went, at a slow slouching trot, in the direction of her own street. "Close in!" cried Alec. Juno found her way barred in a threatening manner, and sought to pass meekly by. "Lat at her, boys!" cried the General.