Part 35 (2/2)
”Well, he certainly was making some pretty big gashes in them drills,”
said Webster slowly.
”Oh, get out!” replied Perkins. ”Though all the same Tim's quite a turnip-h.o.e.r,” he conceded. ”h.e.l.lo! There's quite a crowd in the barn, Danny. I wish I had my store clothes on.”
At this a girl came running to meet them.
”Come on, Danny! Tune up. I can hardly keep my heels on my boots.”
”Oh, you'll not be wanting my little fiddle after you have heard Cameron on the pipes, Isa.”
”Never you fear that, Danny,” replied Isa, catching him by the arm and hurrying him onward.
”Wait a minute. I want you to meet Mr. Cameron,” said Danny.
”Come away, then,” replied Isa. ”I am dying to get done with it and get the fiddle going.”
But Cameron was in the meantime engaged, for Mack was busy introducing him to a bevy of girls who stood at one corner of the barn floor.
”My! but he's a braw lad!” said Isa gayly, as she watched Cameron making his bows.
”Yes, he is that,” replied Danny with enthusiastic admiration, ”and a hammer-thrower, too, he is.”
”What! yon stripling?”
”You may say it. He can beat Mack there.”
”Mack!” cried Isa, with scorn. ”It's just big lies you are telling me.”
”Indeed, he has beaten Mack's best throw many a time.”
”And how do you know?” exclaimed Isa.
”He said so himself.”
”Ah ha!” said Isa scornfully. ”He is good at blowing his own horn whatever, and I don't believe he can beat Mack--and I don't like him a bit,” she continued, her dark eyes flas.h.i.+ng and the red colour glowing in her full round cheek.
”Come, Isa!” cried Mack, catching sight of her in the dim light. ”Come here, I want Mr. Cameron to meet you.”
”How do you do?” said the girl, giving Cameron her hand and glancing saucily into his face. ”I hear you are a piper and a hammer-thrower and altogether a wonderful man.”
”A wonderfully lucky man, to have the pleasure of meeting you,” said Cameron, glancing boldly back at her.
”And I am sure you can dance the fling,” continued Isa. ”All the Highlanders do.”
”Not all,” said Cameron. ”But with certain partners all Highlanders would love to try.”
”Oh aye,” with a soft Highland accent that warmed Cameron's blood. ”I see you have the tongue. Come away, Danny, now, strike up, or I will go on without you.” And the girl kilted her skirts and began a reel, and as Mack's eyes followed her every step there was no mistaking their expression. To Mack there was only one girl in the barn, or in all the world for that matter, and that was the leal-hearted, light-footed, black-eyed Isa MacKenzie. Bonnie she was, and that she well knew, the belle of the whole towns.h.i.+p, driving the men to distraction and for all that holding the love of her own s.e.x as well. But her heart was still her own, or at least she thought it was, for all big Mack Murray's open and simple-hearted adoration, and she was ready for a frolic with any man who could give her word for word or dance with her the Highland reel.
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