But the lithe green snake, and the deadly adder, and the toad have heard the invitation too, and lie closer under cover or creep into their holes, for enemies are abroad. Then slowly and solemnly over the distant hills uprises the moon. And so gloaming gives place to night. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Something black came feathering along at last, and next moment Shot, with his jacket quite wet, and very much out of breath with running, was kissing his friend the collie. Very soon after Dugald and Kenneth were shaking hands. "You thought I wasn't coming?" said Dugald. "Indeed, you're right, but I had almost fallen asleep." "I've had such a chase after a couple of poachers. Didn't you hear me firing? No? But troth, I did have a rap at one of them. Didn't kill him? Man, no, and more's the pity. Troth, Kennie, lad, there are too many about. But come along, till we see the fairy's knoll. Man, it's a whole week since I've seen you. How's the sheep?" "Doing well. No more late lambs. No more feeble dying ones." The keeper shouldered his gun; the two dogs speedily tore up the grass where the field-mouse had been singing. They destroyed all her tunnels and mossy lanes, but they hadn't time to unearth the mouse herself. Away up over the hills went the friends. Up, and up, and up. When on the brow of the mountain they were to cross they must have been fifteen hundred feet above the sea level. Down beneath them the rolling country was slumbering in the misty moonlight, only the river meandered through it all and sparkled like a thread of silver. It was a near cut they had taken; they had now only to descend a little way, and, behold, they were at the cave. And soon in it. "I'll light the lamp," said Kenneth, and in a moment more the interior was illuminated. "Well, I do declare this is grand! Never in this world before had shepherd such a shelter, surely!" So he well might say. Kenneth had cleaned the cave out, bedded the floor with a carpet of withered brackens, hung a huge oil lamp in it, which gave light and warmth both, built rude seats round it, made a rude table, and conveyed hither his books, his fishing-gear, and even his flute. "Isn't it delightful!" cried Kenneth, laughing till his eyes danced and sparkled in the moonlight. "Oh! it is grand!" said Dugald, sitting down all the better to view the place. "I can eat my dinner here, you know," said Kenneth, "and read my books, and study at night." "At night!" exclaimed honest Dugald. "Wad ye no' be feared, man?" he added solemnly. "Are there no bogles about? Losh! there might be even ghosts. Or, man! just fancy a wee fairy body coming in through the door when you were a' by yoursel'!" "Oh!" cried the boy, "that is too good ever to be true. I should rejoice to see a fairy." "Well, man, rather you than me. But tak' your flute and play a tune, to banish eerie thoughts."