"Aye," said Scarlett, instantly dropping his point; "certainly we are for the Good Cause. Truly, also, I have the King of France's boots on, and that with good reason, for when I left France I was officer in His Majesty's Luxembourg regiment." Which, indeed, was very true, but certain other things had happened in between. The tall man seemed pleased at his own acute observation. He called off his men with a single stern word, which sounded almost like a bidding given to a dog to lie down. "But what seek you in my country?" he asked them. Now Scarlett would have given something to know in what country he was, and still more to know who was the owner of it; but not knowing either, he had to do the best he could with the limited information at his disposal. "We are here," he said, laying his finger meaningly on his lip, "on the part of his Majesty the King of France, for the furtherance of the Good Cause." And he added, under his breath, "And a precious deal would I give to know for certain what in this instance the Good Cause is!" For indeed it seemed not likely that Louis was fomenting any rebellion against the arms of King James, who, when Wat and Scarlett left the harbor of Lis-op-Zee, ruled unquestioned at Whitehall. But Scarlett's diplomatic answer was accepted without reserve. "Friends of the true king and officers of his Christian Majesty of France are ever friends of Keppoch's," he cried, striding forward frankly and giving a hand to each. Scarlett felt a strong desire to whistle as the chief revealed himself. "Coll o' the Cows!" he muttered, softly; "we are indeed in the gled's claws this day." For Coll o' the Cows was the wildest chief as well as the most noted cattle-lifter beyond the Highland line, and though now apparently standing for "the Good Cause" (whatever that might be), he had all his life hitherto stood entirely for the very excellent cause of his own vested right to drive other folks' cattle and eat other folks' beef. "Doubtless you will have seen my Lord Dundee?" said Keppoch to Scarlett, whom, very evidently, he considered the leading spirit of the two. Wat pricked up his ears. "Is Colonel Graham here?" he said, looking inquiringly at the chief. Keppoch frowned, and for the first time looked a little suspicious. "Ye must have come over the line but lately," he said, "if ye know not that my Lord Dundee hath broken with Duke Hamilton's Cat Convention, and is now raking the highlands for levies as a servant lass rakes the night-coals to light her morning fires." "Indeed ye may say so, for we have within the hour been landed from the ship which gave us passage from France--landed upon the shore at the mouth of your fine loch there," replied Scarlett, pointing westward with his hand. The brow of Coll o' the Cows instantly cleared. "It is true; I see by your boots ye have been in the salt-water coming ashore." For his pursuit of cattle seemed manifestly to have sharpened his faculty of observation.