TOUR TO NORTH-WEST HIGHLANDS. 135 



fools, silly, simpering, and inanimate. But here, heaven 

 be thanked, Bill 3 is a turf -hovel and inhabited, I pre- 

 sume. Let us arouse the slumbering Celts, and make 

 enquiries as to the inn. (Knocking.) Ho! good folks,hollo ! 



May. Hit harder, Doctor ; apply the butt-end of thy 

 rod to this make-shift of a door. Hear you that 

 nourish of nose-trumpets ! What a snorting these 

 sleepy-pates make ! Hollo ! bestir ye ! (Knocks.) 



Swivel. Thou hast thunder in thy fists, Bill, like old 

 Jupiter ; but these worthy souls seem charm-bound, 

 quite entranced hollo ! you, hollo ! 



May. Ha ! they move and hold consultation. Can 

 you direct us to King's-house, honest folks ? (No 

 answer.) Hollo ! you inside! have you tongue-pieces or 

 ear caverns ? speak for the sake of mercy we are 

 lost wayfarers, tired as tinkers' mules, and hungry as 

 trapped weasels. (Another whispering.) 



Swivel. They take us for burglars or cut-throats. 

 We are now in Glencoe, methinks, and the massacre is 

 not out of memory ! 



May. Give them a touch of Gaelic, Doctor; quote 

 Ossian, or shout a war-cry. 



Swivel. Alas ! Bill, I am a poor scholar, and know 

 not the lingo. Up, knaves, and show face instanter ? 

 Uncourteous hounds ! why lag ye on your straw, while 

 two wandering knights of the angle crave their way to 

 the hostelry ? Up, ye lazy loons ! 



( Voice from within.) Her nain sel pe comin what 

 does she want with Alister Mactonal' ? 



