1 16 THE DEER FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



on the face of a dead man. Hiding all feelings of 

 astonishment, he turned to his servant, saying, " I 

 don't like the comforts of this bothy ; we shall get 

 better in the other one a short distance off," and 

 accordingly they sallied forth in search of this fresh 

 shelter, which being duly reached and a fire lit, 

 Macpherson, pretending he had left his powder-horn 

 on the bed of the first bothy, sent his man back 

 for it, and it may be readily guessed what a terrible 

 shock the dead body gave to the nerves of this 

 faint-hearted retainer, who fled back at top speed to 

 where he had left his master, but on regaining the 

 hut he found to his great dismay all was dark 

 and empty, for Macpherson had set off home as 

 soon as he saw his valiant man depart for the 

 powder flask. Tradition says the fright nearly cost 

 the man his life, "for he fevered and was many 

 weeks before he recovered." 



