136 QUARRYMAN AT WEYDALE. CHAP. XT. 



to hand. That of the llth arrived this morning.* I 

 turned to it without a moment's delay. I had not read 

 very far when I had a notion of what was coming, and 

 the perspiration began to rise profusely from my brow. 

 . . . Seriously, nothing could be better handled than 

 your ingenious mode of broaching the subject, noi 

 exceed your masterly manner of carrying it through. . . 

 Only, like a good man, do not speak so often about 

 me by name. I am a quiet creature, and do not like to 

 see myself in print at all. So leave it to be understood 

 who found the old bones ; and let them guess who can." 

 Dick again repeated his invitations to Hugh Miller 

 to come to Thurso, and see what he had been doing on 

 Holborn Head, in Thurso East, and at Dunnet Head. 

 But in order to explore the country further, he went 

 inland to see what had been found in the flag quarries 

 at Weydale and Banniskirk. He had been to Weydale 

 several times, and made the acquaintance of a quarry- 

 man. He had made an appointment to visit him on a 

 certain day, and, as Dick was a most punctual man 

 and kept his appointments to a minute, he accordingly 

 made his appearance at "Weydale. 



"As I drew near the place," he says, "the auld 

 bachelor came out, pipe in cheek, and sitting down on a 

 stone, he made a motion for me to come and sit down 

 beside him, ' I saw you coming,' he said, ' but I thocht 

 you wudna come the day, it was so blawey.' 'Oh,' 

 said I, ' I always keep my word, blawey or no. Did ye 

 tirr a bit?'-f* 'No, man,' said he, 'the grun was so 

 * 21st July 1845. t Work a bit. 



