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"Thig a seo, a bhean uasa," he said, s atthe others Roger put down his guitar at once, covering it carefully with a canvas, then held out a hand to Bree

"Thig a seo, a bhean," he said, grinning With a look of surprise, she got to her feet, Je, and little by little, the others rose, brushing away pine needles and sand fro in puzzle, and ca away in the rustle of curiosity

Ja fla in ahe stopped and waited Dark figures flitted through the shadows; a man’s shape stood in silhouette before the fire, ar the branch that he carried into the fire Faint cheers went up, fro

Another took his place--MacBean--and another--Ogilvie Then it was our turn

Ja flaher than a tall ues of transparent yellow so pure and ardent as alht of it shone on his upturned face, on his head and shoulders, and threw a long shadow that stretched halfway across the open ground behind hiathered here to welcome old friends," he said in Gaelic "Anda new life in this new country"

His voice was deep and carrying; the last scraps of conversation ceased as the folk pushing and crowding around the fire hushed and craned to listen

"We have all sufferedfrom face to face around the fire Many of the men of Ardsmuir were here: I saw the Lindsay brothers, hoer hair slicked up in horns; the Roman-coin features of Robin McGillivray All looked out fro in the glow, each face crossed by fire

Under the influence of brandy and ehosts who stood behind them; the families and friends who remained still in Scotland, whether on the earthor under it

Ja the le on his flesh as wind and rain mark stone

"Many of us died in battle," he said, his voice scarcely audible above the rustle of the fire "Many died of burning Many of us starved Many died at sea, many died of wounds and illness" He paused "Many died of sorrow"

His eyes looked beyond the firelit circle for afor the face of Abel MacLennan He lifted his cup then, and held it high in salute for alike the wind

"Slàinte!" he echoed them--then tipped the cup, so that a little of the brandy fell into the flames, where it hissed and burned blue for an instant’s time

He lowered the cup, and paused for a moment, head bent He lifted his head then, and raised the cup toward Archie Hayes, who stood across the fire froorget and his father’s brooch

"While we mourn the loss of those who died, we ht and suffered with equal valor--and survived"

"Slàinte!" came the salute, louder this time with the rumble of male voices

Ja toward Brianna, who stood with Lizzie and Marsali, Jeth of his features stood out by contrast with the round-faced innocence of the children, the gentleness of the young ht showed the searanite in their bones

"We pay tribute to our wo the cup in turn to Brianna, to Marsali, and then, turning, to th And our revenge upon our enerave;inte!"

Amid the shouts of the crowd, he drained the wooden cup, and threw it into the fire, where it lay dark and round for aa seo!" he called, putting out his right hand to , neart hter of Henry, strength ofmy feet or those I sturip cold but strong onfor Bree? But no--he stretched out his other hand toward Roger

"Seas ri rave;ranaiche, er, son of Jereer stood stock-still for a moment, eyes dark on Ja The croas still excited, but the shouting had died down, and people craned to hear as said

"Stand by er, left hand extended He spoke slowly and clearly, to be sure of understanding "Be a shield for er’s expression seemed suddenly to dissolve, like a face seen in water when a stone is tossed into it Then it solidified oncehard

Ja This was so I had seen him do before, many years before, in Scotland A formal invitation and identification of tenants by a laird, it was a small ceremony often done on a quarter-day or after the harvest Faces lighted here and there with recognition; h they would not have seen it in this land before tonight

"Coht the Red!"

"Stand with me, a Choinneich, Evan, Murdo, you sons of Alexander Lindsay of the Glen!"

"Come to my side, Joseph Wemyss, son of Donald, son of Robert!" I smiled to see Mr Wemyss, flustered but terribly pleased at this public inclusion,wild in the wind of the great fire

"Stand by me, Josiah the hunter!"