He found the behaviour of his old acquaintances and friends in the Seaton much what he had expected: the few were as cordial as ever, while the many still resented, with a mingling of the jealousy of affection, his forsaking of the old life for a calling they regarded as unworthy of one bred at least if not born a fisherman. A few there were besides who always had been, for reasons perhaps best known to themselves, less than friendly. The women were all cordial. “Sic a mad-like thing,” said old Futtocks, who was now the leader of the assembly at the barn, “to gang scoorin’ the cuintry on that mad brute o’ a mere! What guid, think ye, can come o’ sic like?” “H’ard ye him ever tell the story aboot Colonsay Castel yon’er?” “Ay hev I.” “Weel, isna his mere ’at they ca’ Kelpie jist the pictur o’ the deil’s ain horse ’at lay at the door an’ watched, whan he flaw oot an’ tuik the wa’ wi’ ’im ?” “I cudna say till I saw whether the deil himsel’ cud gar her lie still.” CHAPTER LIX. THE PEACEMAKER. The heroes of Scaurnose expected a renewal of the attack, and in greater force, the next day, and made their preparations accordingly, strengthening every weak point around the village. They were put in great heart by Malcolm’s espousal of their cause, as they considered his punishment of the factor; but most of them set it down in their wisdom as resulting from the popular condemnation of his previous supineness. It did not therefore add greatly to his influence with them. When he would have prevailed upon them to allow Blue Peter to depart, arguing that they had less right to prevent than the factor had to compel him, they once more turned upon him: what right had he to dictate to them? he did not belong to Scaurnose! He reasoned with them that the factor, although he had not justice, had law on his side, and could turn out whom he pleased. They said--“Let him try it!” He told them that they had given great provocation, for he knew that the men they had assaulted came surveying for a harbour, and that they ought at least to make some apology for having maltreated them. It was all useless: that was the women’s doing, they said; besides they did not believe him; and if what he said was true, what was the thing to them, seeing they were all under notice to leave? Malcolm said that perhaps an apology would be accepted. They told him, if he did not take himself off, they would serve him as he had served the factor. Finding expostulation a failure, therefore, he begged Joseph and Annie to settle themselves again as comfortably as they could, and left them.