148 HIGHLAND SPORT 



relieving itself in furious mutterings against the treacherous 

 exciseman. 



All that evening we thrashed out various plots for ven- 

 geance on the traitor. At first Murdoch vowed that he would 

 take no notice of the summons, but would next day seek out 

 the informer and flog him. I pointed out that he would only 

 put himself in the wrong by setting the law at defiance, while, 

 as Mr. Exciseman stood but just over five feet, and weighed 

 some three stone less than his would-be punisher, there would 

 also be but little credit to be gained by taking the law into his 

 own hands. As we each sat smoking by the side of the good 

 peat fire, each cudgelled his brains for a means of crying quits 

 with our friend, and bit by bit we hatched a plot ; it was almost 

 a forlorn hope, but the best we could devise. 



It " came off," however. Silly vanity on one side with good 

 acting on our parts did the trick. It was as follows, then, that 

 we set to work. On the day fixed for hearing the summons we 

 drove into Laggan, Murdoch taking with him many old game 

 licences to show that he had never hitherto failed to fulfil his 

 duty in this respect. The case was heard, and lasted but a 

 short time ; the exciseman swore to the facts " most reluctantly, 

 and actuated solely by a feeling of duty," so he said, while the 

 magistrates expressed their regret to Murdoch that the law left 

 them no option but to impose a small fine, which was at once 

 paid, and the case ended. 



Making our way through the people to Mr. Exciseman, who 

 watched our approach somewhat anxiously, we both neared him 

 with smiling faces and outstretched hands, while as soon as 

 Murdoch was close enough he patted him on the back and 

 complimented him on the part he had played. 



"You are just a brave man, and have but done your duty 

 by the laws of the land, not permitting private friendship to 

 stand in the way." So said Murdoch, while I followed suit to 

 the same purpose. 



Our friend seemed highly delighted at the turn things had 



