"Blackcastle, blow thy bugle," said his chief, "and we'll crop the gate-ward's ears if they hear it not." "Woe to the loitering villain!" grumbled Home. "His gudewife will be keeping him a-bed," said the other lord; "and perhaps the poor man dare not rise." "I _have_ heard that the grey mare is the better horse here," said Blackcastle, as he blew a startling blast; "and I have seen good proof that the poor gate-ward is only Joan Tamson's man, as the saw hath it." "How----" "The rosemary sprig borne at their wedding now flourishes in his kail-yard, like a green bay-tree." "The drowsy rascal; I'll strew its branches on his coffin board. Blow again!" Once more Blackcastle poured the notes of his horn to the wind; and as the echoes mingled with the roaring of the river and the moaning of the trees, that low wailing cry, so chilling to their hearts, was heard again; and now lights began to twinkle in the warder's cottage. "Pest upon thee, villain!" said Borthwick; "while we are detained here, our birds may indeed be flown from Loretto. He ought to know 'tis no ordinary errand that bringeth men abroad in weather such as this." As he spake a white figure, evidently that of a woman in a long dress, appeared on the opposite bank of the stream, and beckoned repeatedly to the troopers to attempt the ford. "'Tis the keeper's wife," said one; "I ken the carlin weel by her lang luggit mutch." "'Tis the Kelpie--beware, beware!" said another, while their horses trembled, kicked, and plunged, and their eyes shot fire, as a deadly terror seemed to possess them--a terror easily communicated to their superstitious riders. Still the figure pointed to the ford and beckoned impatiently. "Thank you, mistress," cried Hailes; "but we would rather not attempt it; so instantly open the gate." But she continued to beckon, and her voice, if she used it, was lost in the howling of the wind and the hoarse roaring of the stream; so, finding their horses were becoming quite unmanageable, Lord Home lost his temper, a commodity which he was ever losing and long of recovering. "Hag!" he exclaimed; "undo the gate, or begone at once _to hell_!" On this, it is related, a wild shriek was heard, and the white wavering figure disappeared. At the same moment, the warder came hurriedly and opened the barrier. "Wretched varlet!" said the imperious Home, giving the man a blow with his clenched hand; "thou hast kept us waiting long enough; why did not that hag of thine open the gate, instead of seeking to wile us by the ford?" "A thousand humble pardons, noble gentlemen," stammered the poor warder; "but--but--a hag, said ye?" "Ay, thy gudewife, carle," said Blackcastle; "I know her well enough by her long-eared coif." "God assoil us! Ye have seen a spirit; for my wife was drowned at the ford this fatal morning, and noo we are streekin' her puir wat corpse for the burial! Oh! sirs," wept the keeper, "what is this o't--what is this o't?"