218 DEER-STALKING. 



giant like Malcolm himself, equally good-looking, and equally 

 respected in his own rank of life. The old man having looked 

 off his book for a moment, without pausing in his reading, 

 continued his chapter. Following Malcolm's example, I took 

 off my cap, and sat down on a chest in the room, and though 

 of course not understanding a word of what was read, instead 

 of being inclined to smile at the peculiar twang and bagpipe- 

 like drawl with which the old man read, I was struck by the 

 appearance of real devotion and reverence of the whole group, 

 and looked on with feelings of interest and respect till he 

 came to the end of a somewhat lengthy chapter. This 

 finished, the old man, resting his head on his hands, which 

 his long grey hair entirely covered, uttered a short prayer in 

 the same language. The moment this was done he handed 

 the Bible to his daughter, who, wiping it with her apron, 

 deposited it in a chest. I was then received with great kind- 

 ness, and preparations were made for Malcom's and my 

 supper, which consisted of tea, oatcake, eggs, and some 

 kippered trout, caught in a stream running out of the large 

 loch, and which when alive must have weighed at least 

 twelve pounds : such cream and milk, too, as is met with, or 

 at any rate enjoyed, only in the Highlands. With great 

 discretion the old people talked to me but little during the 

 meal, seeing that I was tired and hungry ; but over the glass 

 of capital toddy which succeeded the tea I had many a 

 question to answer respecting the killing of the stag, &c. 

 The old lady spoke very little English, but understood it well 

 enough. The old shepherd listened with great interest, the 

 more so from having been a somewhat famous stalker in his 

 own time, and now a great lamenter of the good old time 

 when deer and black cattle were more plentiful, and sheep 

 comparatively few to what they are in the present day. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



Sleeping in Shepherd's House Start in the Morning Eagle Wild Geese 

 Find Deer ; unsuccessful shot Rocky Ground Wounded Stag Keeper 

 and Dog Walk Home. 



BEFORE the earliest grouse-cock had shaken his plumage, and 

 called his mate from her heather couch, I had left my sleep- 

 ing-place in the building that did duty for a barn, where 

 deep in the straw and wrapped in my plaid I had slept 



