The Wee Scotch Piper Read online

  CHAPTER VII

  ALAN CRAIG TELLS A STORY

  The word "Betty" resounded in the hills many times that evening. Thelights in the village were already lighted when a tired, heartsick boy,followed by a sympathetic sheep dog, returned to the Craig cottage.

  There they were awaited by Alan Craig. The lad stumbled blindly intothe house.

  He found his father with a candle in his hand, waiting to lead thedisappointed boy to his bed.

  Ian cried himself to sleep that night. Roy, the dog, sat beside himand mourned for the lost member of the little household.

  The next day and the next were spent in searching the hills, thefields, and the forest. Fortunately for Ian, they were Saturday andSunday, and he did not have to go to school.

  He arose before the dawn and did not return until evening. But it wasalways the same. Betty was nowhere to be found. Though Ian and Royhunted in every conceivable place, the lamb had disappeared.

  On Monday, Ian was forced to relinquish his hunt and go to school.Immediately after school he called to Roy and was off again.

  "The lad hardly eats his meals, he's so troubled!" said Mrs. Craig toher husband, as she shook her head.

  Alan bit his pipe in silence, while his heart bled for Ian.

  Alan had been training a new dog for the sheep. He was using this doginstead of Roy, who was allowed to stay with Ian and help him in hissearch.

  But this meant added work for Alan, who had to be on the watch. Hecould not leave his charges completely in the care of this new helper,as he had done with Roy. Many times the new dog frightened the sheep.They soon became panicky and ran in all directions.

  Then the dog forgot all of Alan's training and ran after them wildly.Alan always had to come himself to restore order.

  One day he tramped miles to recover a terrified mother and her baby.After this long walk, Alan sat on the hillside.

  Meanwhile the new dog looked at him out of the corner of his eye, anddropped his tail because he was ashamed.

  As the shepherd sat smoking, he saw his son coming toward him, followedby Roy. Ian threw himself down beside his father. Letting his head sinkupon the shepherd's knee, he gave up the search.

  "'Tis weary I am, Father," he sighed. "The search is over, and my weelamb is gone."

  IAN GIVES UP THE SEARCH]

  "And your pipes, Ian? Are they to be lost, too?" queried the shepherd.

  "Ay," answered his son, "for Sandy said, 'If you tend the wee creaturewell till spring!' Now Sandy will return in the spring, and there'll beno creature."

  For a few moments Alan Craig smoothed Ian's curly black hair. The boytried hard to hold back his sobs, which were nearly choking him.

  Then Alan Craig spoke. "Ian, lad, have you not heard the story of Bruceand the spider?"

  "Ay, Father," replied Ian. "'Tis in my history book."

  "Then mind well while I repeat it to you. For King Robert Bruce was agreat man, and he never gave up!"

  Ian listened intently while his father recounted the well-known tale.He told how, many, many years ago, King Robert Bruce had fought withthe English and lost numerous battles. One night, he was lyingdespondent on a rude couch in his tent on the battlefield.

  KING BRUCE AND THE SPIDER]

  His heart was heavy with the memory of his lost battles and of thesuffering throughout his country. Just then his eye fell upon a spiderin the corner of the tent. The industrious little creature was tryingto fix its web to the top pole of the tent. It had already made sixattempts, but each time it had fallen.

  King Bruce bethought him of his lost battles. Six! He and the spiderhad failed six times. And now he, King Bruce, was about to give up!Would the spider also be downed, or would it, perhaps, persevere oncemore?

  King Bruce made a vow to himself. He decided that, should the weecreature try again to fix its web and be successful, then he, RobertBruce, would profit by the spider's lesson and fight another battle!

  The spider made another attempt. Slowly it raised its shadowy bodyuntil, quivering in the air, it balanced itself for the final plunge.The King raised himself on his elbow and watched. A nation awaited thatspider's success or failure!

  Again it plunged, caught at the pole, and fixed its web! King RobertBruce jumped to his feet. He threw his plaid about him and began hispreparations for the greatest battle in Scottish history, the Battle ofBannockburn.

  As everyone knows, he routed the English at this famous battle. Neverafterward would the great King give up!

  ALAN TELLS THE STORY OF KING BRUCE AND THE SPIDER]

  "So should we all feel, Ian," said Alan Craig as he finished his tale.

  "From the King to the spider!" Though Ian had heard the story oftenbefore, it now held a new meaning for him. He looked up at his father.

  Then he stood erect and called to his dog, "Come, Roy; we'll tryagain!"

  He was soon off through the hills once more.