THE EILDON HILLS 105 



when the firing ceased, I detected him in his form 

 couched between two blocks of granite ; " for he 

 kent," he said, "that it was no canny to dander 

 aboot, and disturb the patrigs." And I think this 

 was judicious ; but it did not seem to account for 

 the paleness of his complexion. 



My bag was now sufficiently full ; and in return- 

 ing to the hotel I noticed the form of the Eildon 

 Hills, which, we have since been credibly informed, 

 were cloven in three by the art of gramarye. It 

 was then that I discovered that my companion's 

 mind was completely subdued by superstition. 



" Thae hills are pleasant to the view," said he ; 

 "and it is the custom on the seventh day for 

 people to ascend the middle one, and enjoy the 

 prospect. On the last Sabbath I gaed up ; and 

 instead of the hill being throng as usual, I fund 

 mysel' alone, and when I was near the tap a sudden 

 mirkness cam owre me, and I sat doon on the sod 

 in a cauld sweet. Then I cast my een up ; and I 

 saw, as plain as I see ye the noo, twa men houking 

 a grave by the light of a torch ; and ither men 

 joined them, walking twa by twa, wi' pale lights. 

 And when they cam to the grave, they gaed to 

 the far side of it ; and an auld wife cam in front 

 wi' a lang white stick in her hand, and a light 

 like a star a tap o' it : she had an awfu' beard, and 

 beckoned me to the grave. Ou it was dreadfu ! 

 I believe I swooned away, as it was richt I should ; 

 and when I cam' to mysel', all was vanishit, and it 

 was as mirk as pick. And a' this day I thocht 

 that your gun was the instrument that was to pit 

 me intill that grave." 



