Piper Sutherland, I think, was of the old Forty-twa. Are
you a piper, perhaps?" continued Mack.
"Oh, I play a little," said Cameron. "I have a set in the house."
"God bless my soul!" cried Mack, "and we never knew it. Tell Danny where
they are and he will fetch them out. Go, Danny!"
"Never mind, I will get them myself," said Cameron, trying to conceal
his eagerness, for he had long been itching for a chance to play and his
fingers were now tingling for the chanter.
It was an occasion of great delight, not only to big Mack and his
brother Danny and the others, but to Cameron himself. Up and down the
floor he marched, making the rafters of the big barn ring with the
ancient martial airs of Scotland and then, dropping into a lighter
strain, he set their feet a-rapping with reels and strathspeys.
"Man, yon's great playing!" cried Mack with fervent enthusiasm to the
company who had gathered to the summons of the pipes from the house and
from the high road, "and think of him keeping them in his chest all this
time! And what else can you do?" went on Mack, with the enthusiasm of a
discoverer. "You have been in the big games, too, I warrant you."
Cameron confessed to some experience of these thrilling events.
"Bless my soul! We will put you against the big folk from the city.
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