98 CHURCHYARD OF BOYNDIE. CHAP, vi 



shelter. In summer time, especially, he would lie 

 down on the grass and sleep soundly, with the lock 

 of his gun for his pillow, and the canopy of heaven 

 for his blanket. His ear was always open for the 

 sounds of Nature, and when the lark was carolling 

 his early hymn of praise, long before the sun had 

 risen, Edward would rise and watch for daybreak 



When from the naked top 

 Of some bold headland he beheld the sun 

 Rise up, and bathe the world in light. 



In the course of his wanderings inland, he was fre- 

 quently overtaken by storms in the hills. He carried 

 no cloak, nor plaid, nor umbrella, so that he often 

 got completely soaked before he could find shelter. 



One of the most remarkable nights Edward ever 

 spent, was under a gravestone in the churchyard of 

 Boyndie. The church of this parish was at one time 

 situated in the midst of the churchyard ; but as it was 

 found inconvenient, and at a considerable distance 

 from the bulk of the parishioners, it was removed 

 inland, leaving but a gable end of the old church 

 standing. The churchyard, however, is still used 

 as a burying-place. It stands on a high piece ol 

 ground overlooking the sea, about two miles west of 

 Banff. In clear days, the bold, rugged, precipitous 

 coast is to be seen, extending eastward as far as Crovie 

 Head. But the night of which we speak was very 

 dark ; the sky was overhung with rolling clouds ; 

 the sea was moaning along the shore. Edward ex- 



