"Surely there are six of us,'said he in a hurried tremulous voice. "Six of us!" said Tam, as doubting the statement. "Six of us? No, surely?" said Delany. At that instant a lad came out with a lanthorn, and held it up to look at the party. The poet was nearest the door, and the light shone full on him and the rider that was next him. He cast his eyes on that rider,--but one glance was enough to bedim his eye-sight, if not to scare away his reason. It had the appearance of a warrior sheathed in steel, but all encrusted in a sheet of blood. His mouth was wide open, and his jaws hanging down upon his breast, while his head seemed to be cleft asunder. The poet uttered a loud yell of horror, and, flinging himself from his horse on the side opposite to that on which the phantom stood, he fell among the mud and stones at the door, yet ceased not to reiterate his loud cries like one in distraction. Every one jumped from his horse, and hurried in at the door; the man with the lanthorn also fled, and with the noise and uproar the horses galloped off, saddled and bridled as they were. As the guests ran into the hall, every one asked at all the rest what it was? "What is it?" was all that could be heard; all asking the question, but none answering it. Even the people of the house joined in the query, and came all round the strangers, crying, "What is it?--What is it?"--"I do not know--I do not know, Sir--I do not know upon my word." "The people are all delirious," said the housekeeper:"--Can no one tell us what it was that affrighted you?--St Magdalene be with us! whom have we here?" This was no other than the poor bard coming toward the light, creeping slowly on all-four, and still groaning as he came. "Here's the chap that began the fray," said Tam, "you may speer at him. He rather looks as he were at ane mae wi't. For my part, I just did as the rest did,--ran an' cried as loud as I could. When a dust is fairly begun, I think aye the mair stour that is raised the better. I'll try wha will cry loudest again, an ye like,--or rin round the fire wi' ony o' you, or out through the mids o't either, at a pinch." Tam turned round his long nose to see if his jest had taken, for he always fixed his eyes stedfastly on one object when he spoke; but he found that his jargon had been ill-timed, for no one laughed at it but himself. The rest were gathered round the bard; some pitying, but more like to burst with laughter at his forlorn state. He fetched two or three long-drawn moans, and then raising himself up on his knees, with his eyes fixed on the light, he rolled over, and fainted.