"Come to the front, then," said the King, "and say your say." Every eye was at once fixed on the bold speaker. But MacWhirlie, nothing abashed, leaped from the heather stalk on which he stood, and making a double somersault above the whole company, landed erect upon the edge of a leaf whereon sat the King and lords. [Illustration: FIG. 11.--Brownie MacWhirlie Comes to the Front by a Double Somersault.] "Ugh!" said the monarch, starting back; for MacWhirlie had well nigh alighted on his toes. "Queak!" cried the Queen; and "queak, queak!" screamed the Princesses, tumbling over one another in their fright. "You rude beast!" growled the Lord Keeper, laying his hand upon his broadsword. But the youth and boys cheered, the young Princesses began to giggle, the old folks laughed outright, the Queen smoothed down her ruffles, the good King composed his countenance and smiled, and the Lord Keeper smothered his indignation and put up his sword. "Speak up, laddie," said the King. MacWhirlie bowed low first to the royal party, and then to the lords. (My Lord Keeper's brow cleared up somewhat at that.) "I was passin' thro' the barn the morn," he began, "and saw the gardener packin' the auld kist that lies on the barn floor, with tools, seeds, roots and herbs. It's a gude place for hidin', is yon kist." "That it is," exclaimed the Queen laughing, "I've had mony a game o' bo-peep in 't mysel'." "Aye, aye, so it is!" was the hearty assent from all parts of the hall, while the lads on the outside signified their approval by cheers for the old chest. "A gude place for hidin' is yon auld kist," continued MacWhirlie. "I ken naethin' like it for Brownies. An' if your Majesty please, we can a' ride to America safe eneugh in that." "It is gude counsel," cried the King, clapping his hands. "Forbye, I would na thoct it frae sic a giddy pate as yoursel', MacWhirlie. Many thanks, however, and mak' ready quarters in the auld kist for your journey to the New World. Herald, dismiss the Assembly." Lord Herald skipped to the front and sounded a bugle, which in sooth was nothing more than a tiny shell fitted with a dainty mouthpiece. "Hi-e-iero! ee-roo!" [Illustration: FIG. 12.--The Old Chest on its Journey Across the Allegheny Mountains.] Then he struck his staff thrice, and cried, or rather intoned in a loud voice these words: O-eez; O-eez; O-eez! Bide by the King's decrees! Brownies-O-bonnie, and Brownies-O-braw, Hither gae, hame gae, Brownies awa'! At the last word the Assembly arose, and speaking all together, responded, Brownies aye, Brownies a Leal and true, awa', awa'!