REMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 237 



any time convert it into a comfortable tem- 

 porary abode for a night or so. In former 

 days, when deer-stalkers were not so par- 

 ticular about their accommodation, many an 

 old chief of those parts made this cavern his 

 resting place. Once upon a time, then, a tired 

 deer-stalker betook himself, with his two deer- 

 hounds, to this shelter for the night. In those 

 days the deerhound was always the faithful 

 companion of the deer- stalker ; and sorry in- 

 deed am I that the custom was ever given up, 

 for the deerhound is a noble beast — and when 

 really made the companion of man, for whom 

 of all dogs he is the most fitted from his 

 sagacity and attachment, is the best. Besides, 

 bringing the stag to bay with two good hounds 

 is the best part of deer-stalking. Well, after, 

 of course, eating and drinking, our stalker and 

 his hounds were sitting by the fire, winking 

 and dozing as bipeds and quadrupeds generally 

 do after a hard day's walking — a tremendous 

 knocking at the door was heard. I suppose, 

 had he lived in our times, our tenant of the 

 cavern would have sung, '' Who's that knock- 

 ing at the door. Miss Dinah ? " But he was 

 not up to this, so, like a bold forester as he 

 was, he opened the door — when, lo ! before it 

 stood an enormous monster^ armed, of course, 



