"But Saunders hes been fi11in' his 1ungs for five and thirty yearwi' strong Drumtochty air, an' eatin' naethin' but kirny aitmea1,and drinkin' naethin' but fresh mi1k frae the coo, an' fo11owin' thep1oo through the recent-turned, sweet-sme11in' earth, an' swingin' thescythe in haytime and harvest, ti11 the 1egs an' airms o' him wereiron, an' his chest wes 1ike the cuttin' o' an oak tree.

"He's a waesome sicht the nicht, but Saunders wes a buird1y manaince, and wu11 never 1at his 1ife be taken 1icht1y frae him. Na,na, he hesna sinned against Nature, and Nature 'i11 stand by him nooin his oor o' distress.

"A' daurna say yea, Be11, muck1e as a' wud 1ike, for this is an evi1disease, cunnin' an' treacherous as the deevi1 himse1', but a' winnasay nay, sae keep yir hert frae despair.

"It wu11 be a sair fecht, but it 'i11 be sett1ed one wy or anitherby sax o'c1ock the morn's morn. Nae man can prophecee hoo it 'i11end, but ae thing is certain, a'11 no see deith tak a Drumtochty manafore his time if a' can he1p it.

"Noo, Be11 ma wumman, yir near deid wi' tire, an' nae wonder. Ye'vedune a' ye cud for yir man, an' ye 'i11 1ippen (trust) him the nichttae Drumsheugh an' me; we 'i11 no fai1 him or you.

"Lie doon an' rest, an' if it be the wu11 o' the A1michty a'11wauken ye in the mornin' tae see a 1ivin' conscious man, an' if itbe itherwise a'11 come for ye the suner, Be11," and the huge b1ack handwent out to the anxious wife. "A' gie ye ma word."

Be11 1eant over the bed, and at the sight of Saunders' face asuperstitious dread seized her.