MY GUIDE. 57 



cuts off the retreat of all within. When the ebb of tide com- 

 mences the mullet begin to retire, and when they discover 

 that their egress is obstructed, their attempts to effect a pas- 

 sage are both constant and curious now running down the 

 nets, trying for a broken mesh by which to force an aperture 

 now with a bold spring endeavouring to clear the buoy- 

 ropes, and even after repeated failures, leaping at it again and 

 again. The last effort is directed to the bottom ; but there 

 the heavy stones resist every attempt to dislodge them, and 

 deserted by the treacherous water, the mullet are left upon the 

 bare sands. 



As hours must elapse from the time the nets are laid down 

 until the fish can be secured, I left my kinsman, who officiated 

 as chief engineer. Having brought two brace of greyhounds 

 with us, I set out to course, under the guidance of a man who 

 joined my cousin on the island. 



There was a striking air about the stranger, joined to his 

 wild and haggard look, that at once riveted my attention. 

 His clothes were much better than those of any of the 

 peasantry I had yet seen, and in address and manner he was 

 far superior to the rest of my cousin's retainers. He was not 

 above five-and-twenty, his figure tall, gaunt, sinewy, and 

 almost fleshless, but his square shoulders and well-knit joints 

 proved him to be a powerful and active man. I shall never 

 forget the singular expression of his countenance. It was. 

 settled sorrow bordering on despair ; the hollow cheek, the 

 sunken rayless eye, the wandering and suspicious glance 

 around him, all showed a mind fevered with apprehension 

 and harrowed by remorse. He shunned observation, and if 

 my eye met his by accident, he instantly looked another way. 

 He was armed with a new carbine ; and his whole bearing 

 and appearance were so singular and alarming, that more 

 tlaan once I wished my kinsman had allotted me some other 

 guide. 



My companion was, however, shrewd and intelligent and 

 he appeared fond of field sports, and perfectly conversant with 

 the arcana of shooting and coursing. He enumerated with 

 the science of a connoisseur the points, and praised the 

 beauty of a pair of English dogs I had brought with me; 

 but told me " the master's (my kinsman's usual title) would 

 outrun them here. 1 ' I differed with him in opinion. Mine 



