EEMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 230 



and caught only a sea-trout or two ; but 

 did not ever try it again, for the simple 

 reason that the game was not worth the 

 candle. 



But there was another story of that stout 

 henchman that beat them all. He was stalking 

 in the park one day, before w^e took the Aline 

 shooting, with a former tenant. They had 

 never been able to spy any stag that they 

 thought worth shooting; and, towards the 

 afternoon, they sat down to luncheon rather 

 disconsolate. While discussing this meal, they 

 were all of a sudden astonished by a little old 

 man in a grey coat joining them unawares, his 

 approach not having been perceived. He sat 

 down a little way from them, looking" wistfully 

 at the bread and cheese. They took him for 

 one of the park shepherds, though wondering 

 at not knowing him by sight even. With true 

 Highland hospitality, they tendered him of their 

 fare, of which he greedily and gratefully, but 

 silently, partook. Whisky, to their very 

 great astonishment indeed, he refused. After 

 the usual pipe they resumed their stalking, 

 never noticing the disappearance of their little 

 old friend in the grey coat ; but he was gone, 

 and nobody saw him go. Very shortly after- 

 wards they found a stag with a very odd, queer 



