It was about day-dawn, when Robin Paterson and his wife were aroused by the loud barking of their farm-dog; but the sound suddenly ceased, as if the watch-dog were familiar with the intruder; and a gentle tapping was heard at the window of the room where they slept. "Wha's there?" inquired Betty. "A friend--an old friend," was replied in a low, and seemingly disguised voice. But there was no disguising the voice of a lost son to a mother's ear. "Robin! Robin!" she exclaimed--"it is _him_!--Oh, it is _him_!--Peter!--my bairn!" In an instant, the door flew open, and Peter Paterson stood on his parents' hearth, with their arms around his neck, while their tears were mingled together. After a brief space wasted in hurried exclamations, inquiries, and tears of joy and surprise--"Come, hinny," said the anxious mother, "let me get ye changed, for ye're wet through and through. Oh, come, my man, and we'll hear a' thing by and by--or ye'll get yer death o' cauld, for ye're droukit into the very skin. But, preserve us, bairn! ye hae neither a hat to yer head, nor a coat to yer back! O Peter, hinny, what is't--what's the matter?--tell me what's the meaning o't." "O mother, do not ask me!--I have but a few minutes to stop. Faither, ye can understand me--I maun go back to the ship again; if I stay, they will be after me." "O Peter!--Peter, man!" exclaimed Robin, weeping as he spoke, and pressing his son's hand between his--"what's this o't!--yes, yes, yer faither understands ye! But is it no possible to hide?" "No, no, faither!" replied he--"dinna think o't." "O bairn!" cried Betty, "what is't ye mean? Wad ye leave yer mother again? Oh! if ye kenned what I've suffered for yer sake, ye wadna speak o't." "O mother!" exclaimed Peter, dashing his hand before his face, "this is worse than death! But I must!--I must go back, or they would tear me from you. Yet, before I do go, I would see my poor Ann." "Ye shall see her--see her presently," cried Betty; "and baith her and yer mother will gang doon on oor knees to ye, Peter, if ye'll promise no to leave us." "Haste ye, then, Betty," said Robin, anxiously; "rin awa owre to Mr Graham's as quick as ye can; for, though ye no understand it, I see there's nae chance for poor Peter but to tak horse for it before the sun's up." Hastily the weeping mother flew towards Mr Graham's. Robin, in spite of the remonstrances of his son, went out to saddle a horse on which he might fly. The sun had not yet risen when Peter beheld his mother, his betrothed bride, and her father, hurrying towards Foxlaw. He rushed out to meet them--to press the object of his love to his heart. They met--their arms were flung around each other. A loud huzza burst from a rising ground between them and the beach. The old skipper started round. He beheld a boat's crew of the frigate, with their pistols levelled towards himself, his unhappy daughter, and her hapless bridegroom!