An anxious consultation now took place between the officer and the Highlanders, but carried on in so low a tone, that it was impossible to catch the sense. So soon as it was concluded they all left the house. At their departure, the Bailie thus expressed himself: “Thae Hielandmen are o’ the westland clans, and just as light-handed as their neighbours, an a’ tales be true, and yet ye see they hae brought them frae the head o’ Argyleshire to make war wi’ puir Rob for some auld ill-will that they hae at him and his sirname—And there’s the Grahames, and the Buchanans, and the Lennox gentry, a’ mounted and in order.—It’s weel kend their quarrel—and I dinna blame them—naebody likes to lose his kye—and then there’s sodgers, puir things, hoyed out frae the garrison at a’body’s bidding—Puir Rob will hae his hands fu’ by the time the sun comes ower the hill. Weel—it’s wrang for a magistrate to be wishing onything agane the course o’ justice, but deil o’ me an I wad break my heart to hear that Rob had gien them a’ their paiks!”