"Hoot toot! ye'll be no meanin' it?"
"But I do mean it," said I.
"Eh, man! but ye maun ken the place is no canny, what wi' pixies, an' warlocks, an' kelpies, forbye—"
"Indeed, they told me it was haunted, but I determined to see for myself."
"Weel?"
"Well, I am glad to find it haunted by nothing worse than a wandering
Scots piper."
The Highlander smiled his wry smile, and taking out a snuff-box, inhaled a pinch, regarding me the while.
"Ye're the first as ever stayed—after they'd heard the first bit squeakie, tae find out if 't were a real bogle or no."
"But how in the world did you make such awful sounds?"
"I'm thinkin' it's the bit squeakie ye'll be meanin'?" he inquired.