"Few folks ken o' this place," said the old man; "to the best o'my knowledge, there's just twa living by mysell, and that's Jingling Jock and the Lang Linker.

I have had mony a thought, that when I fand mysell auld and forfairn, and no able to enjoy God's blessed air ony langer, I wad drag mysell here wi' a pickle ait-meal; and see, there's a bit bonny dropping well that popples that self-same gate simmer and winter;--and I wad e'en streek mysell out here, and abide my removal, like an auld dog that trails its useless ugsome carcass into some bush or bracken no to gie living things a scunner wi' the sight o't when it's dead--Ay, and then, when the dogs barked at the lone farm-stead, the gudewife wad cry, Whisht, stirra, that'll be auld Edie,' and the bits o' weans wad up, puir things, and toddle to the door to pu' in the auld Blue-Gown that mends a' their bonny-dies--But there wad be nae mair word o' Edie, I trow." He then led Lovel, who followed him unresistingly, into one of the interior branches of the cave.

"Here," he said, "is a bit turnpike-stair that gaes up to the auld kirk abune.

Some folks say this place was howkit out by the monks lang syne to hide their treasure in, and some said that they used to bring things into the abbey this gate by night, that they durstna sae weel hae brought in by the main port and in open day--And some said that ane o' them turned a saint (or aiblins wad hae had folk think sae), and settled him down in this Saint Ruth's cell, as the auld folks aye ca'd it, and garr'd big the stair, that he might gang up to the kirk when they were at the divine service.

The Laird o' Monkbarns wad hae a hantle to say about it, as he has about maist things, if he ken'd only about the place.