"How know you, Paul, that Duncan Mhor MacRae, from Kintail-of-the-cows, did this?" asked Rob Hoy.
"Even by the words you have spoken, had I not better evidence," replied the strange old man.
"Explain yourself, Paul; we have no time for trifling now," said Rob, softly.
"Duncan nan Creagh lost each alternate tooth in his lower jaw when fighting with Colin's father, at the fair of Callender, in the year that the field of Rin Ruari was stricken. They came to dirk and claymore about the price of a Clydesdale cow, and Ian Bane smote Duncan on the mouth with the hilt of his sword, and forced him to swallow a mouthful of his own teeth; and a bitter mouthful he found them."
"Dioul! well?"
"Since then he has been well-nigh a toothless man; but if you would overtake the creagh, lose no time, for I saw the spoil and the spoilers not two hours since."
"You saw them?" exclaimed all, bending forward.
"Yes, I," said Paul, brandishing his pilgrim-staff; "and not quite two hours ago."
"Where?" asked Red MacGregor.
"Crossing the Dochart, and taking the road towards Glenfalloch."