ii4 THE DEER FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



stalk as being a very good omen for the time to 

 come, in which he was not wrong, as proved by 

 future events. 



It is impossible to read the accounts of Clunie's 

 adventures, during the nine years of his wanderings, 

 without being impressed with the chivalrous daring 

 of his character. Clearly he was a firm believer in 

 the old Highland saying of: "Better trust to a 

 bulwark of bones than a castle of stones," and if 

 ever there was a chieftain who was both " steel lord 

 and skin lord," Cluny Macpherson was he. The old 

 Highlanders used to call those chieftains " steel " 

 lords who kept and held their lands by the sword ; 

 the " skin " lords were those who relied on their title- 

 deeds engrossed on parchment to prove their rights. 



One of the most ancient stories in connection 

 with Ben Alder relates to the days when wolves 

 were common in the mountain fastnesses. At that 

 period a Mr. Macpherson of Breakachy having 

 charge of this forest, was one day in quest of 

 venison accompanied by a servant when they came 



