Adam Hepburn's Vow

rd, not on his own account, but on that of the venerable father of his beloved Agnes. When he entered the room where the minis

aching yesterday, Adam, that you lo

ce at Mr. McLean's ministrations yesterday," replied Adam, a little quickly. "He threate

that it might get you and yours into trouble, harbouring an ejected and rebellious ministe

led to do would mean certain death," said Adam Hepburn. "No, no; though I am not such a red-hot churchman as

her brother-in-law. At that minute Agnes, hearing such serious voices, came in from the kitchen, asking what wa

y our dourness to attend the curate's pre

ook stole into Agnes

gs, Adam," she said. "These are sad, sad days in which we l

Rowallan so long as my stout right arm retains its cunning," Adam answered, lightl

r-in-law's face. "She is not well, and in her sleep is restless and troubled, as if haunted b

strength, please God," said Jane, cheerfully

train upon her sensitive heart," said the minister. "As Agnes

he ejected ministers, and of their faithful flocks, who travelled miles to hear them in the mountain solitudes, worshipping with them in temples not made with hands, but which were consecrated to the Lord by the faithfulness and fearless piety of these Christian people. For a time the parish of Inverburn, although very offensive in its treatment of the curate, escaped the severity with which many other parishes, notably those in the shires of Galloway and Dumfries,

When the dragoons at length came to Inverburn, he hid in the day-time in a cunningly-concealed cave on the face of the hill upon which Hartrigge stood, and the existence of which was known onl

ted upon various households in the village, notably those who were known to be very zealous Presbyterians. Watty McBean's house was taken possession of by four co

minister removed out of the way before he should be taken prisoner. He crept up to the room window and gave a familiar tap on the lower pan

"An' by what I hear the rascals, wha hae taen my hoose frae me, sayin' tae ane anither, it's oor minist

epburn

y'll no lay hands on the minister, or they'll be sharper than I think them

ice ye'll get him awa' intae safe hidin' as sune as possible. I was sayin' tae Bettie I kent a bonnie

rn, and beckoning to Watty, he ushered him into the warm ingle-neuk, where sat t

friend," said the minister, rising to shake ha

neither bite nor sup, nor an article o' gear in the parish," answered Watty dolefully. "The four villains quartered on u

instinctively her husband moved to the back of her chair, and la

ave already stayed too long, not only at the peril of my own life, but it is imperilling

said the sweet voice of Adam Hepburn's wife. "At the cock-crow

e laird's wine, an' soft beds, an' routh [abundance] o' breakfast 'l

ded way. "Now, Watty, if you'll say good-night, and come with me, I'll

r clutches," said Watty with fervour. "Mistress Hepburn an' Miss Jean, guid nicht wi' ye baith; an' shoul

iction of the soldiery on your abode. Provoke them not to anger, Watty, I entreat,

aid the good soul, with a comical smile, and pulling his forel

motioned to Watty to enter, and after carefully closing the door, lighted the lantern he had brought with him from the house. The barn at Rowallan was a large and commodious place, with a steep ladder-like stair ascending to the granary above. In one corner a small door gave admittance to an inner apartment, something res

re, Watty, anything

Watty, "and no' a very safe hidin'-place, I w

l Watty saw nothing save a moth-eaten and discoloured wooden floor. But when Adam inserted into some of the seams the strong blade of his gully knife, and Watty saw a distinct movement in the flooring, he began to have an inkling of what

tall figure. Still following his guide, Watty walked a little way along the passage, and then found himself in a kind of cave, a wide open space, sufficient to hold about a dozen people. There was a rude couch composed of stones, built in one corner, upon which now had been piled a substantial tick filled with chaff, above which was spread plenty of blankets and thick coverings, which w

nae mistak'! Whaur did it

Watty. But you don't know half its advantages yet. See, the underground passage continues right through here," he added, shedding the light of his lantern into another dark recess; "and what do you think? it runs right

time for nests when I was a laddie," said Watty, solemnl

ng of a string I have fastened up in the chaff-hole, I can make a noise which will warn him to escape

d Watty, in much glee; "an' I'm no' blind. Eh, weel, may be

think he was not very safe much longer at Hartrigge," said Adam Hepburn. "Well, Watty, I think we'd better

mean tae dae mischief; it's jist their tongues, puir craters, fashed [troubled] wi' a weakness, an' th

oor, emerged into the chaff-hole, and thence out into the open air, where, after a