And now that we understand each other, ye'll can name your business." "Why," says Alan, "you that are a man of so much understanding, will doubtless have perceived that I am a Hieland gentleman.

My name has nae business in my story; but the county of my friends is no very far from the Isle of Mull, of which ye will have heard.

It seems there was a ship lost in those parts; and the next day a gentleman of my family was seeking wreck-wood for his fire along the sands, when he came upon a lad that was half drowned.

Well, he brought him to; and he and some other gentleman took and clapped him in an auld, ruined castle, where from that day to this he has been a great expense to my friends.

My friends are a wee wild-like, and not so particular about the law as some that I could name; and finding that the lad owned some decent folk, and was your born nephew, Mr.Balfour, they asked me to give ye a bit call and confer upon the matter.