CHAP. vii. BOYNE CASTLE. 117 



west of Banff, was one of Edward's favourite night 

 haunts. The ruins occupy the level summit of a 

 precipitous bank forming the eastern side of a ravine, 

 through which the little river Boyne flows. One of the 

 vaults, level with the ground, is used as a sheltering 

 place for cattle. Here Edward often took refuge 

 during rain, or while the night was too dark to 

 observe. The cattle soon got used to him. When 

 the weather was dry, and the animals fed or slept 

 outside, Edward had the vault to himself. On such 

 occasions he was visited by rats, rabbits, owls, weasels, 

 polecats, and other animals. 



One night, as he was lying upon a stone, dozing 

 or sleeping, he was awakened by something pat-pat- 

 ting against his legs. He thought it must be a 

 rabbit or a rat, as he knew that they were about the 

 place. He only moved his legs a little, so as to drive 

 the creature away. But the animal would not go. 

 Then he raised himself up, and away it went ; but the 

 night was so dark that he did not see what the animal 

 was. Down he went again to try and get a sleep ; 

 but before a few minutes had elapsed, he felt the 

 same pat-patting ; on this occasion it was higher 

 up his body. He now swept his hand across his 

 breast, and thrust the intruder off. The animal 

 shrieked as it fell to the ground. Edward knew the 

 shriek at once. It was a Polecat. 



He shifted his position a little, so as to be opposite 

 the doorway, where he could see his antagonist betwixt 



