"It is asking for your pardon I am, sir," said he; "but—I have brought a pistol with me."
"A pistol? And why so?" said Donald Ross.
"It is the pistol that I would like to be firing into the cave," said Calum, rather timidly, "before any of us went into it."
"And what is your reason for that, Calum?"
Calum rather hung his head; but he said all the same—
"If there would be wild beasts in the cave, it will scare them before we go in."
"Wild beasts? And what wild beasts are there in Eilean Heimra?" Then the young man laughed. "Calum, is it a badger, or a wild cat, or an otter that you fear? Or is it not rather the Dark Person you are afraid of, who used to come every night to Lochgarra to ask Mr. Stanley if he was not ready yet? Did you believe that story, Calum; and did you not think the Dark Person very foolish to talk Gaelic to Mr. Stanley, when he was not understanding a word of it?"
Calum did not answer: he was shamefacedly awaiting permission to fire into that dreaded place.
"Well, well, Calum," young Ross said, good-naturedly, "you are not long from your mother's apron-string: if you are afraid, give me the candles, and keep the pistol in your pocket. Give me the candles—and lend Coinneach here a hand with the kegs."
But at this Calum raised his head.