We now return to Bertram and Dinmont, who continued to follow their mysterious guide through the woods and dingles, between the open common and the ruined hamlet of Derncleugh. As she led the way, she never looked back upon her followers, unless to chide them for loitering, though the sweat, in spite of the season, poured from their brows. At other times she spoke to herself in such broken expressions as these--"It is to rebuild the auld house--it is to lay the corner-stone--and did I not warn him?--I tell'd him I was born to do it, if my father's head had been the stepping-stane, let alane his. I was doomed--still I kept my purpose in the cage and in the stocks;--I was banished--I kept it in an unco land;--I was scourged--I was branded--My resolution lay deeper than scourge or red iron could reach-and now the hour is come." "Captain," said Dinmont, in a half whisper, "I wish she binna uncanny! [*Mad] her words dinna seem to come in God's name, or like other folk's. Odd, they threep [*Declare] in our country that there are sic things." "Don't be afraid, my friend," whispered Bertram in return. "Fear'd! fient a haet [*Not a whit.] care I," said the dauntless farmer, "be she witch or deevil; it's a' ane to Dandie Dinmont." "Haud your peace, gudeman," said Meg, looking sternly over her shoulder; "is this a time or place for you to speak, think ye?" "But, my good friend," said Bertram, "as I have no doubt in your good faith, or kindness, which I have experienced; you should in return have some confidence in me--I wish to know where you are leading us." "There's but ae answer to that, Henry Bertram," said the sibyl.--"Iswore my tongue should never tell, but I never said my finger should never show. Go on and meet your fortune, or turn back and lose it--that's a' I hae to say." "Go on then," answered Bertram "I will ask no more questions." They descended into the glen about the same place where Meg had formerly parted from Bertram., She paused an instant beneath the tall rock where he had witnessed the burial of a dead body, and stamped upon the ground, which, notwithstanding all the care that had been taken, showed vestiges of having been recently moved. "Here rests ane," she said, "he'll maybe hae neibors sune."