137 



CHAPTER XI. 



DEAE OLD SHIPPY. 



IT was with great regret, as I have already 

 said, that I parted with my friend Burnaby. 

 Independent of the regard I had for him, 

 there was a comfort in having near at hand a 

 countryman on whom one could rely in case 

 of emergency. You may say what you like, 

 but Celt clings to Celt, Saxon to Saxon ; and 

 in the far regions of the north-west one likes 

 to be sure of something like fellow-feeling — one 

 wants something like plain, down-right English. 

 Living, as I did at that time, a great deal in 

 the Hebrides, I wanted a companion that un- 

 derstood English ways and habits thoroughly. 

 No doubt, as long as Fred was in the island, 

 and my own immediate neighbour, there was no 

 lack of fellowship ; but then, alas ! December 

 generally saw him migrate. I don't think I 

 could have stood the island by myself at first 

 without Dick; but when he also went, my 



