Violet Jacob > Flemington

274
FLEMINGTON
of the yellow dog. He was a man to whom small
obstacles were invisible when he had a purpose,
and he almost trod on the animal, without noticing
the suppressed hostility gathering about his heels.
But, so long as his master’s voice was friendly,
the cur was still, for his unwavering mind answered
to its every tone. Probably no spot in all Angus
contained two such steadfast living creatures as
did this green place by the bracken when Callandar
and the yellow dog stood side by side.
The soldier tethered his horse and sat down on
the moss. Wattie laid the letters before him ; the
second was addressed to Archie. Callandar broke
the seal of the first and read it slowly through ;
then he sat silent, examining the signature, which
was the same that Flemington had showed to the
beggar on the day when he met him for the first
time, months ago, by the mill of Balnillo.
He was directed to advance no farther towards
Brechin, but to keep himself out of sight among
the woods round Huntly Hill, and to watch
the Muir of Pert, for it was known that the
rebel, James Logie, was concealed somewhere
between Brechin and the river. He was not
upon the Balnillo estate, which, with Balnillo
House, had been searched from end to end, but
he was believed to be in the neighbourhood of
the Muir.
“You know the contents of this?” asked
Callandar, as he put away the paper inside the
breast of his coat.
“ Dod, a ken it’ll be aboot Logie. He’s a fell