“The Highlands may become the fairy ground for romance and poetry or subject of experiment for the professors of speculation, political and economical. But if the hour of need should come—and it may not perhaps be far distant—the pibroch may sound through the deserted regions, but the summons will remain unanswered. The children who have left her will re-echo from a distant shore the sounds with which they took leave of their own.—_Cha till, cha till, cha till, sinn tuillie._—We return, we return, we return no more,” but the Wizard of the North hardly saw into the future so clearly as he might have done. Had he seen the latest war in South Africa, he would not have put the “return no more” so strongly. The hour of need did come, the pibroch did sound, and from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand the answer came, in the shape of regiments of loyal Britons, who fought and died for the old land. There is now a far bigger Scotland than ever existed, or could exist, between Maiden Kirk and John o’ Groats. Thus has good come out of evil. [Illustration] CHAPTER XXI. THE OLDEST PIPE TUNES. “At present I’ll content mysel’, A hamely Scottish tale to tell, Whilk happened years and years back; An’ says tradition its a fact: Be’t true or no I canna say, I was nae up to see the day, But took the story upon credit, An’ I shall gie it—as I had it.” Unreliability of tradition—Lost in antiquity—Occasions of tunes— Interest of stories—The Mac Raes’ March—Story of “Suarachan”—Hal o’ the Wynd—The Mac Intosh’s Lament—Two different stories—_A Cholla mo run_—Duntroon’s Salute—The Campbell’s are coming.