"I dinna ken," Eppie replied, a little subdued; "I canna mind—unless it would be Roy askin' me was the sea very far fro' this? An' anither time, Willie telled me he would like fine to be a sailor, an' maybe it would be a sailor he was to be, some day. I 'm thinkin' the lads hae gone over the moor to find the sea."
"I will set some folk to seeking them," said the minister; and he went out, not staying for breakfast. Eppie sank down on the stairs crying.
The minister went to the small cottage of "Lang" Jock Mackenzie, the shepherd. Jock listened to his tale without a change of feature, only taking a pinch of snuff, and saying gravely, "Ay, that might be; "for he was a cautious man. But when Mr. McAllister asked if he were willing to go out and try to find the boys, he said at once that he would go, and that his collie, Meg, should go too.
"Meg's a powerfu' fine nose for a scent,"
