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 he could not conjecture what on earth it could be, unless it was either the Enemy himsel, or some of the auld Peghts that held the country lang syne.

"Auld Peght!" exclaimed the grandame; "na, na—bless thee frae scathe, my bairn, it's been nae Peght that—it's been the Brown Man of the Moors! O weary fa' thae evil days!—what can evil beings be coming for to distract a poor country, now it's peacefully settled, and living in love and law?—O weary on him! he ne'er brought gude to these lands or the indwellers. My father often tauld me he was seen in the year o' the bloody fight at Marston-Moor, and then again in Montrose's troubles, and again before the rout o' Dunbar, and, in my ain time, he was seen about the time o' Bothwel-Brigg, and they said the second-sighted Laird of Benarbuck had a communing wi' him some time afore Argyle's landing, but that I cannot speak to sae preceesely—it was far in the west.—O, bairns, he's never permitted