Already all the farmhouses had been thoroughly searched.

An awful horror fell upon me, and the most frightful ideas of Davie's fate arose in my mind.

I remember giving a howl of dismay the moment I heard of the catastrophe, for which I received a sound box on the ear from Mrs.Mitchell.I was too miserable, however, to show any active resentment, and only sat down upon the grass and cried.

In a few minutes, my father, who had been away visiting some of his parishioners, rode up on his little black mare.

Mrs.Mitchell hurried to meet him, wringing her hands, and crying-- "Oh, sir! oh, sir! Davie's away with Foolish Willie!" This was the first I had heard of Willie in connection with the affair.