A detached cottage, the furthest out of the group, stood close upon the Oran--the narrow streamlet, a mere mountain burn so near its source, was spanned there by white stepping-stones. A woman in a widow's cap stood at the cottage-door, looking out with a silent want of wonder, which told plainly enough that some mightier interest prevented her from sharing in the excitement of her neighbors. The men approached the house, and after summoning her to leave it instantly, a summons which the poor woman heard in vacant astonishment, immediately prepared to unroof her humble habitation. The crowd of Macalpines had been looking on in breathless silence. Now there was a wild shriek of excitement and fury--men and women precipitated themselves at once upon the minions of that ruthless law which was not justice.--The ladder was thrown down; the hapless officer who had been the first to mount it, struggled in the hands of two strong young men; and Jean Macalpine, a tall athletic woman, stood before the terrified widow in the doorway, another officer prostrate at her feet. Mr. Fitzherbert and Whittret rushed forward--their satellites formed themselves together for resistance--the Macalpines furiously surrounded the cottage--there promised to be a general melee. But loud above the noise and tumult sounded the united voices of Big Duncan, and his minister. "Jean Macalpine," shouted the chief of Oranmore, "come out from among this senseless fray. Dugald Macalpine, quit the man: why will ye pollute your hands striving with him? Donald Roy, let go your hold. Gentlemen, gentlemen, haud your hands, and hear me." There was a momentary truce. "Beware!" said Mr. Lumsden. "Within that house lies an invalid--if you expose that sinking lad, you will have a death to answer for. I tell you, beware!" "Gentlemen," said Big Duncan Macalpine, "yon house is mine. I protest, in the name of my people, that ye are doing an unrighteous and unlawful thing. I beg ye, as ye are Christian men, that ken what hames are, to let us bide in our ain glen and country.--In honor, and honesty, and leal service we will pay ye for your mercy; but if ye are determined to carry on this work, unrighteous as it is in the sight of God and man, begin yonder--take my house. I was born in it--I thocht to die in it--begin with my house; but if ye would escape a curse and desolation, leave the hame of the widow." There was a pause--the invading party were in a dilemma.--The very officials were moved by the manly disinterestedness of Big Duncan Macalpine. He himself strode to the side of the lads who had pulled the man from the ladder, and freed him from their grasp: then he gathered the Macalpines together, spoke a word of comfort to the widow, and placing himself by the door of her cottage, looked calmly towards his own house and waited.