“Come out now, come out now,” she cries to these, “for the moon is coming, and danger has fled with the daylight far over the hills.”
But the lithe green snake, and the deadly adder, and the toad have heard the invitation too, and lie closer under cover or creep into their holes, for enemies are abroad.
Then slowly and solemnly over the distant hills uprises the moon.
And so gloaming gives place to night.
Something black came feathering along at last, and next moment Shot, with his jacket quite wet, and very much out of breath with running, was kissing his friend the collie.
Very soon after Dugald and Kenneth were shaking hands.
“You thought I wasn’t coming?” said Dugald.
“Indeed, you’re right, but I had almost fallen asleep.”
“I’ve had such a chase after a couple of poachers. Didn’t you hear me firing? No? But troth, I did have a rap at one of them. Didn’t kill him? Man, no, and more’s the pity. Troth, Kennie, lad, there are too many about. But come along, till we see the fairy’s knoll. Man, it’s a whole week since I’ve seen you. How’s the sheep?”