"You are a skoondrill, and you kno it! But nobody else knos it but my son and me and Serjent Mercer. I wuss you to understan’ that he knos all about yon black business o’ yours, 20 year back. This comes to let you kno that unless you leve him alone, and don’t molest him, I will send you to Botany Bay, as you deserve. Medle not with the Sergeant, or it wull be to your cost. Attend to this hint. I wull have you weel watched. You are in Mr. Mercer’s power. Bewar! "Your servt., "JOHN SPENCE." "I houp," said John, as he had the letter read over to him, "that will mak the whitrat leave aff sookin’ the Sergeant’s throat! If no’, I’ll worry him like a brock, or hunt him like a fox aff the kintra side. But no’ a word o’ this, mind ye, tae ony leevin’ cratur, mair especial tae yon trampin’ chiel. Gie Smellie a chance, bad as he is. Sae let the letter be sent aff this verra nicht wi’ Sandy the Post. The sooner the better. The nesty taed that he is! Him to be preaching tae a man like Adam oot o’ his clay hole!" The letter was despatched that night by the post. It was not thought discreet to intrust Jock with the secret, or to let Adam Mercer know in the meantime anything about this counter-mine. Breakfast being over, Hall proposed to return to Drumsylie. Before doing so he wished some positive assurance of obtaining aid in favour of the Sergeant from Spence. But all he could get out of the keeper was to "keep his mind easy--no’ to fear--he wad look efter the Sergeant". Old Spence would not, however, permit of Jock’s immediate departure, but invited him to remain a day or two "and rest himsel’". It was benevolently added, that "he could help Johnnie to fish at an odd hour, and to sort the dogs and horses in ordinar’ hours". The fact was, old Spence did not wish Hall to return immediately to Drumsylie, until events there had time to be affected by his letter to Smellie. Jock was too glad of the opportunity afforded him of proving that he might be trusted to do whatever work he was fitted for, and that he was not "a lazy tramper" by choice. As the week was drawing to an end, Jock made up his mind to return to his old haunts, for home he had none. He had also an undefined longing to see the Sergeant, and to know how it fared with him. But when the day arrived for his departure, Hugh suggested that perhaps Jock would like to see the Castle. It was not, he said, every day he would have such a chance of seeing so grand a place, and maybe he might even see his lordship!--at a distance. Besides, it would not take him far out of his road; and Hugh would accompany him a part of the way home, as he had to visit a distant part of the estate in the discharge of his professional duties. Jock’s curiosity was excited by the thought of seeing the great house not as a beggar or a poacher, but under the genteel protection of a keeper and confidential servant, and when a live lord might be scanned from afar without fear.