"If it had been left to the Duke," replied Muckle John, "every clan in the north would have made havoc of Argyll." "You speak strangely, sir--I take it you mean no offence to the Clan Campbell?" "I," echoed Muckle John, "what have I against them? I am a Lowlander, as my name tells ye; we canna all be born across the Highland line." "Well, well, Captain Strange, there are braw men on both sides; I take it you are on the trail of the rebel leaders?" "And who else? But I would as wittingly trap foxes in Badenoch; they disappear like peat reek on a summer's night." Captain Campbell nodded his head, and taking out a dispatch from his pocket, he drew his stool a shade nearer. "You come at an opportune time," he said, "for here is a dispatch in which your name appears, and certain secret information is contained for transmission to you." "Indeed, sir," said Muckle John, all attention. "It has reached the knowledge of the Duke of Cumberland that certain rebels are concealed about the shores of Arkaig, and amongst them Lord Lovat, who has fled in that direction from Gortuleg House. Two days after Culloden, a party of dragoons surrounded the latter place, but he had gone, carrying his papers with him. He is an old man, and should not evade capture long. The Duke places the utmost importance on his capture. If Lovat is taken, he is assured all further trouble will simmer out. As long as Lovat lives he will counsel resistance, and that may mean months of service in the hills." "Are any others mentioned?" "It is stated that French gold has been landed at a place near Arkaig, and here is a warrant to arrest two rebels who have knowledge of it--one is a boy, Rob Fraser by name, who is acquainted with the hiding-place of Lord Lovat, and the other is--who do you think?" "Who indeed, sir? Lochiel--Cluny...?" "No, no, who but Muckle John, the most dangerous of them all when mischief is afoot." "Muckle John? But is he not abroad?" "Abroad--who ever heard of him abroad when there is a head to crack at home? They say he is wanted on a charge in the Low Countries." "A dangerous fellow," said Muckle John severely, "and yet there's a kind of quality about the man--a bird of passage, Captain Campbell, and a bonny player on the chanter." "More a gallows-bird than any other. He'll whistle a thin enough tune when the Duke has finished with him. He lays great stress on his taking, I can tell ye. He can spin a yarn, Captain Strange, that will be worth hearing, I'll be bound. He and that boy, Rob Fraser, are in company, as desperate a pair as ever skulk in the heather this day." "I take it there is no saying where they lie?" The other winked very slyly at that. "The net is closing," he said, "and once the boy is caught, there is small chance of the other going loose."