"Well, I suppose it must be," said Nora, as she assisted her cousin to adjust her silken hood. "You know the boat lies in the Western bay, and Duncan awaits below to escort me." Having kissed farewell, they approached the door, but Bertha stopped as if afraid to proceed further. "I have been thinking," she said, "I cannot go without Kate." "You must or give up all hopes of escape," was the answer. "Pardon me, but I cannot," said Bertha. "She has been so faithful to me in everything that I cannot think to distrust her in this. I should weary my life away without her." Besides, "Believe me, Bertha," said Nora, evidently much irritated, "she can only be an encumbrance. If you agree to stay I can send Duncan to the place of rendezvous with a message to Clement, but if you resolve to go the dangers are great, and the utmost precaution is necessary to ensure success. If Clement had thought it advisable to take her with you he would not have objected so strongly to your wish. Meanwhile you must make your own dear self secure, and I will arrange for Kate following you after your arrival at Loch Awe." "As you say then," said Bertha. "You will at least let me take farewell?" For that purpose she tripped across the apartment into the anti-chamber where her bower-maiden lay dreaming of Olave and all the little intrigues with which she and her mistress whiled away the dreary days at Dunolly. Bertha stooped to imprint a loving, farewell kiss on the girl's cheek, but she kissed so fervently that Kate started up rosy from her slumbers, rubbed her eyes, and, looking around with a strange bewildered air, gazed for a moment on the pale and anxious features of her mistress. On noticing the travelling habit she immediately divined the cause of the untimely awakening, and springing from her resting-place she fell at Bertha's feet, and, seizing her kirtle skirts, pleaded that her "dear mistress" would not leave her alone in a place which had latterly become so hateful to her. Opposition but increased her vehemence, and almost threw her into hysterics. In a few moments she had donned her clothes and resolved to follow. Nay, good lady, I will go with you," she insisted, "and see that no harm comes by you.' "Stay, my girl," was Bertha's answer. "You mustn't-you cannot go with me. I shall be back instantly." Nora, who now came upon the scene, endeavoured by threat and entreaty to quiet her, but all was useless. Kate was determined, and there was no hope of overruling her. She would not even consent to be silent, and it was feared that her violence would alarm the garrison. "Let her go, dear cousin," said Bertha at last. "I would rather not go as go withont her." "Perhaps it will be as well then," said Nora, in a half-consenting tone. "You must haste at any rate, if you intend going, and you must blame yourself if the enterprise miscarries. The captain may by this time be going his rounds, and if he surprises the guard in the guard-house all may be lost." Before leaving Bertha cast a sad and regretful look around the little chamber where she had spent so many happy as well as weary days. Nora lighted both safely down stairs till they reached the seaward platform. Here greater care had to be exercised in order to escape observation. The great iron door from which they emerged was cautiously shut and locked by Nora. As they attempted, however, to reach the little turret with the secret outlet, a sentinel on guard unshouldered his pike with the words, "Stand and unfold yourselves." Bertha and Kate instantly shrunk back as the weapon was threateningly advanced, but Nora fearlessly drew her poinard and commanded him to withdraw and let them pass. On observing Nora of Lorn he drew back, but, not to be outdone, he insisted on the execution of his duty, demanding to know their intentions or he would alarm the garrison. "Duty!" exclaimed Nora. "Your duty is to obey, and I command you to clear the way." 'Nay, pardon me, madam," returned the sentinel. "My duty is to defend this passage against all comers, whether from within or without." Thus their progress was about to be stopped but for Kate, who now advanced and addressed the pikeman. "Shame on you, Conrad, for a cowardly knave," she said. "Duty, forsooth. Hast no more chivalry than mouth before defenceless damsels and call it duty. Down with your pike and unlock the gate." At the same time she shook her little hand in the sentinel's face, grasped at his weapon, and held it firmly while she ordered him to take the keys from Nora and open the turret door. Nora and Bertha stood aghast in astonishment as the submissive sentinel took the keys to open the door, but all his efforts were of no avail, as the lock had grown rusty with the lapse of years, and would not stir. All tried to turn the key successively, but failed. Kate put the handle of the pike into the ring, but only succeeded in splintering the weapon. Conrad, seizing the iron head, thrust it into the ring, and twisted with his whole strength until he wrenched the head from the key. The only resource remaining was to make an attempt to reach the main gateway and endeavour to escape thereby. Conrad, who was now all submission, directed them to follow him. They gained the court-yard in safety, and as they neared the guard-house the discordant notes of a Bacchanalian song gave evidence of the ale-cup's frequent visitations. Here they were not allowed to pass without molestation. "What, ho! my pretty winches! where away?" shouted a portly guardsman, staggering from the door-way. "Peace with your insolence!" returned Conrad, reprovingly. "Can my lady not pass to matins without being accosted by every drunken guardsman on the way. Command the portcullis to be raised for my lady and her train." Ashamed of his effrontery, and smarting from the rebuke, the muddled guardsman obeyed, and by his alacrity seemed to apologise for his conduct. The portcullis was drawn up, the gates unbarred, and the drawbridge let down. Nora and Bertha kissed farewell, and under the safeguard of Duncan, who waited without, cantered down the hill slope hanging on the arm of her faithful bower-maiden. Feeling free after a long period of confinement, Bertha tripped airily over the turf, and wiping the last tear-drop from her cheek, seemed to surpass the lively Kate in her cheer fulness. As the embarking spot lay on the other side of the bay, opposite the castle, they had to make the whole circuit of the shore, and it was only as they neared the place of appointment that Bertha seemed to realise the perilous nature of the step she had taken. She had never doubted Clement until now, when a strong suspicion took possession of her mind, and she almost halted in her progress. A huge rock jutting out into the sea, and rising like a barrier in their path, marked the place of rendezvous. As they approached they were saluted by a tall and gallant-looking youth, whom Kate was first inclined to regard as Dermond, but on closer scrutiny recognised as Clement. Nothing passed save the formal civilities which Bertha was almost too faint to render. Clement assisted her into the boat, and as soon as she had gained her seat in the stern he proceeded to push off, as Kate and Duncan were exchanging farewells, but Bertha, observing the movement, recovered herself and ordered him to back oar for her waiting-maid in a tone he could not disobey. "Do you not wish your other attendant as well?" Clement inquired, as Kate leaped gaily into the boat. "Not unless you require him," was the answer. After hesitating a moment, Clement flung Duncan a few silver pieces; and the boat was soon going steadily through the waters with the bright green lights flashing from the bow and oar-dips. (To be Continued.) THE LUCKNOW (ONTARIO) CALEDONIAN GAMES are to be held this year on the 8th of September. We wish our good friends and their Chief every success. THE PROPHECIES OF THE BRAHAN SEER.—This curious and popular book is again out of print so far as the publishers, A. & W. Mackenzie, are concerned; but we understand that Mr James Melven and Mr James H. Mackenzie, booksellers, Inverness, and Mr James Keith, Dingwall, have still a few copies on hand, at 3s 6d. We have, however, eleven copies of the large-paper edition, printed on toned paper, remaining, at 78 6d. Only 75 copies of the latter were printed. THE CLAN MACKENZIE IN SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA. — The multitude of Mackenzies here has a distracting effect upon some people. An Irishman coming from Cote St Paul in 1878 was much disturbed from this cause. Shortly after arriving he had need of some lumber, and was told to go to Mackenzie's; then he wanted hardware, and he was again referred to Mackenzie. His wife enquiring for a draper was told to go to Mackenzie's. He needed a tinsmith, it was still Mackenzie. Furniture was needed, and again it was Mackenzie. He asked who was Mayor, and he was told Mackenzie. He needed a lawyer, and he was referred to Mackenzie. inquired who was running for Parliament-it was again the invariable Mackenzie. He ventured to ask who was running against him, still the answer was the sameMackenzie. "Tare an ages," he exclaimed, "carry me back to Cote St Paul; they are all Mackenzies."-London (Ont.) Free Press. [The ex-Premier of Canada, the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie, belongs to Sarnia.-ED. C.M.] He THE HIGHLAND RIFLE (ROSS-SHIRE) MILITIA. FOR some years past we have had the pleasure of attending the annual inspection of this distinguished Highland Regiment of Militia, admitted by all the military critics to be one of the most efficient, if not indeed the crack militia regiment of the United Kingdom. The district from which it was originally raised comprised the counties of Ross, Moray, Nairn, Cromarty, Caithness, and Sutherland, and the islands of Orkney and Shetland. It has occurred to us that a sketch of its origin and history might prove interesting to many throughout this wide district, and through the courtesy of Colonel Ross of Cromarty, who has the distinguished honour of commanding this fine body of men, and Captain Stewart (of the 78th Highlanders), Adjutant of the regiment, we are placed in a position to give the following interesting particulars from the records of the corps. The regiment was first raised and embodied at Fortrose and Dingwall, on the 23d of April 1798, and consisted of eight companies; the officers being-Colonel, Francis Lord Seaforth; Lieutenant-Colonel, James Earl of Caithness; Major, William Wilson (appointed a month after the embodiment of the corps); Captains, Kenneth Mackenzie, John Gordon, Lewis Dunbar, Sackville Sutherland, and Dougald Gilchrist; Adjutant, Donald Fraser. There were also 1 captain-lieutenant, 9 lieutenants, 6 ensigns, paymaster, quartermaster, surgeon, surgeon-mate, 26 sergeants, 24 corporals, 16 drummers, and 184 privates. The regiment was originally called the Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, and Cromarty, or 2d North British Militia, and during the first four years of its existence seems to have secured for itself the reputation which it has ever since so well maintained untarnished. In 1802 the regiment received the thanks of the King and both Houses of Parliament for their good services; and on the 23d of April in the same year, Lieutenant-General R. Vyse, commanding His Majesty's forces in North Britain, addressed a letter to the Colonel, Lord Seaforth, from which we extract the following:-"Though I am perfectly sensible that no individual praise can increase that satisfaction which your Lordship and the regiment under your command must at this moment so fully and completely deserve from those well deserved acknowledgments which you have received from your sovereign and the hereditary legislators and representatives of your country, yet, having had the honour of commanding in North Britain almost since the formation of your regiment, and having seen its daily progress to its present state of discipline and improvement, I beg leave to add to the general approbation my humble tribute of applause and the grateful offer of my thanks for that general, exemplary good conduct, of which I have now so long been a witness, and which convinces me, that if any presumptuous enemy, as was often threatened during the late war, had dared to invade the coasts, or to disturb the tranquillity of this happy country, that the North British Militia would have nobly emulated the glorious conduct of their countrymen on the plains of Aboukir and Alexandria." In 1802 the regiment was, including officers and men, 439 strong, when, on the first of May, it was disbanded at Inverness, except the |