above all what were the opinions of the people in general regarding the unprecedented and fearful wet winter they were visited by this season.
The mischievous piper seeing the eagerness and thirst of the ignorant and innocent people for some interesting news, began with the following fabrication, which he related with the greatest sang froid to his gaping audience:—
"That reminds me of my message to you all, as I suppose you have not heard of the great news of the world. An act of parliament has been passed lately which requires that every person in the three kingdoms shall procure all the oakum they possibly can before a certain day and the whole is to be shipped off towards the west. The reason of this is, that last summer being so dry the west firmament became cracked, causing a great leakage, which if not stopped up and caulked will produce another flood, and drown every person on the face of the earth. Every individual therefore on this estate, is commanded by the factor to send as much oakum as possible to his place before a fortnight, and anyone not complying with these orders is to be turned off the estate first Whitsuntide."
Precisely that day fortnight, as Mr. Stuart and old Munro were taking their rounds about the farm, they espied on unusual fleet of boats sailing up Lochlinn; and, on landing near the factor's house, their cargoes of bags were discharged. In order to ascertain the nature of the cargo, and who the new comers were, both walked to the beach and accosted the Ton Ghaoi people, who, at once explained their business.
Mr Stuart turned round with a smile to old Munro for an explanation, and that individual immediately predicted his mischievous son's tricks, which he whispered to Mr. Stuart, and fearing if the people were to know what dupes they had been made, that they would revenge themselves the first opportunity, he therefore prayed that Mr. Stuart would leave them still in ignorance.
The worthy factor told these simple men, that as the weather had cleared up, the act, or order, would most likely be countermanded. He, however, accepted of the oakum (which would last for years), and treated the
