THE MAJOR AS CAMP-KEEPER 273

The night was almost as bright as day, and well it
needed to be, for surely a wilder path was never trodden
by feet of men. But it was the nearest, after all, to the
camp ; and when at last they spied the red lights glim-
mering through the birchen trees, Lady Bute gave vent
to a bark or two of joy that made every hill and rock
ring again.

It brought out Major Bufiles, who was ready to dance
with joy, for in such imperfect English had the ghillie
given his message, that poor Buftles fully expected his
kind young masters had been caught by wild brigands
and hanged on the nearest pine trees.

Before he went away with his ghillies, the piper, who
talked good English, gave Douglas a piece of paper.

«On every loch,” he said, “that is mentioned on that
sheet of paper, and in every stream, the laird gives
you permission to fish; only you'll take my advice, and
go to see him now and then.”

Douglas promised. They all had a look at the cara-
yan, then said good-night.

Once more the bagpipes struck up a merry tune, and
in a few minutes the Highlanders had disappeared in
the moonlit woods.

Tt was late before the boys got to sleep that night,
they had so much to talk about, and it was equally
late before the camp was all astir in the morning.