Part 35 (2/2)

The idea seeo and examine Gibbie's curious little cave on the hillside

Haht came and

The daas hardly h the clouds and the rain, and Hamish pulled up the collar of his coat and pushed forward in the darkness

As he toiled up the hill the as rising in angry squalls and after awhile the rain ceased and a large break began to open in the clouds, letting the grey light through

The burn, along whose banks Ha with it bits of stick, clods of earth, and other rubbish Once or twice Hamish fancied he saw a bit of white paper whirl past, but it was carried down stream before he could reach it

At last he reached the hollohere Gibbie's little dwelling was situated Just above there was a little cascade, and the swollen waters, co doith a rush, overflowed their banks and flooded the lair, sweeping out a quantity of straw ed into the streaht straw, papers and all in his arms

A shout from the lair made him look round, and there stood Gibbie, soaked et, and plastered withthese,' cried the lad; 'they're for Neil, all for Neil!'

'All right, Gibbie,' said Haive the the carried away'

'Who told you I had seen Neil?' asked the lad craftily; 'Andrew said I was not to tell any one, and I'orjo in dark blue clothes asked me and I told hi quietly, but tre too much or too little; 'and when did you see Mrs MacAlister last?'

A sly expression passed over the lad's face

'Me and Mrs MacAlister not friends,' he said 'Play her tricks'

Suddenly he began to laugh 'Played her a fine trick, though; she never find out! Gibbie steal her letters when she and her husband had gone out to see Neil home Door left open, no one see Gibbie--clever Gibbie!'

'Wait, Gibbie,' interrupted Ha for you,' and he or was just driving hoht visit to a patient when his son dashed into the road, spattered withfrom his boots

'Father,' said Hamish, 'come withthe reins to his grooipsy's burrow

'Hullo, Gibbie, you look cold,' said the doctor, taking in the situation with great presence ofhot'

Sitting by the fire in the nearest cottage, with a glass of stea toddy in his hand, Gibbie became communicative, and the doctor soon drew froood lad,' said the gipsy 'Neil kno to behave to a Roh and throw stones

Gibbie gave Neil a present; two presents; so out of the letters

Neil will find it in his coat pocket soht, Gibbie,' said the doctor craftily; 'suppose we go and tell Neil that you put them there He or's tired horse ithdrawn from its feed, and Hamish, his father, and Gibbie set out for Ardnavoir

'Neil's cleared,' announced Hae-looking figure of the gipsy

Finding hi so many people, Gibbie became suspicious and refused to speak, but the faces of his colad to say that your innocence is established beyond a doubt, Neil,' said Dr MacGregor bealad to shake hands with you'

'Oh, hooray, hooray,' shouted the boys 'Neil, old boy, you're cleared,' and they capered round hi until the lad was quite bewildered