252 Notes on Sport and Travel i 



were out on the moss saw the three together on the 

 craigs, and saw the two men thrown over, and thought 

 sure that Chisholm had a hand in the business ; so 

 they followed him so sharp and close, that they saw 

 him enter the cave, and thought, " Now we have him 

 as safe as a salmon in a cruive." Just as Chisholm 

 was going into his cave, he turned round and saw 

 the men coming in a straight line towards him, and 

 thought he would break out, but there were over 

 many of them, and so he stepped into the cave, and 

 they followed ; and he went further and further 

 toward the end, and heard them aye groping after 

 him, till he got to the bare rock, and couldna get 

 further. Weel, he thought it was all over with him, 

 but he stretched out his hands to feel whether there 

 was any way to win further, and he felt the edge of 

 a rock over his head, and he gripped it and drew 

 himself up, and found a shelf where he could lay 

 himself along, about seven feet up the side of the 

 cave. Well, the Guns they came on, stumbling and 

 banning and breaking their shins in the darkness, 

 for it was as mirk as a wolf's mouth, and stooping 

 down to feel their way, for they didna ken how high 

 the roof was, and they were fearful of breaking their 

 heads. Well, the first Gun ran his head against the 

 end of the cave, and cried out, " Hoot, lads, I hae 

 him ! " for he thought that Chisholm had hit him in 

 the head, and that he had him a' safe, but he hadna, 

 and they groped, and they felt, and they glowered 

 into the darkness till their eyes shone like wild cats'. 



