WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



equalled. As he walked into my room, followed by his two 

 magnificent dogs, he would have made a subject worthy 

 of Landseer in his best moments — and it would have been 

 a picture which many a fair damsel of high, as well as low 

 degree, would have looked upon with pleasure. Excepting 

 when excited, he is the most quiet, good-natured fellow in 

 the world ; but I have heard some stories of his exploits, in 

 defence of his liberty, when assailed by keepers, which 

 proved his immense strength, though he has always used 

 it most good-naturedly. One feat of his is worth repeating. 

 He was surprised by five men in a shealing, where he had 

 retired to rest after some days' shooting in a remote part 

 of the Highlands. Ronald had a young lad with him, who 

 could only look on, in consequence of having injured one 

 of his hands. 



Ronald was awoke from his sleep in the wooden recess 

 of the shealing(which is called a bed), by the five men com- 

 ing in, — and saying that they had tracked him there, that 

 he was caught at last, and must come along with them. 

 "'Deed, lads," said Ronald, without rising, "but I have had 

 a long travel to-day, and if I am to go, you must just carry 

 me." "Sit quiet, Sandy," he added to his young companion. 

 "They'll no fash us, I'm thinking." The men, rather sur- 

 prised at such cool language from only one man with no- 

 body to assist him but a boy, repeated their order for him 

 to get up and go with them ; but receiving no satisfactory 

 answer, two of them went to his bed to pull him out. "So 

 I just pit them under me" (said Ronald in describing it), 

 "and kept them down with one knee. A third chiel then came 

 up, with a bit painted wand, and told me that he was a con- 



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