No one stirred. The young chief looked round perplexed, and then rose himself and went to the window and opened it. As he did so, a huge shaggy mastiff bounded into the apartment, barking and capering for glee at seeing once again his master and hearing his voice.
“Lie down, sir, quiet. Now, my men, what think you of this for a ghost? Thanks, Geordie, for your story. I remember now, I heard it when a child. Well, let’s hope it will be a long while yet before Sir David’s ghost is put to the trouble of a midnight walk.”
“Hist, my young master,” said Tam; “it’s ill jesting with the spirits.”
“What, Tam! one would think, now, by the way you speak, you would not dare to keep a solitary watch on the east terrace yourself.”
“I’d dare anything,” replied Tam, “but—”
“But you would rather not,” replied Singleton, laughing.
That laugh roused the spirit of Tam, who, though superstitious, was hardly a coward.
“I never said that,” he cried; “and if needs be I would do it, even to-night.”
“Even to-night!” repeated Singleton. “What does the man mean? Even to-night! I’ve a good mind to order you to the watch to-night for talking in riddles, sirrah!”
“The watch here has always been a double one since I can remember,” put in auld Geordie.