NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 275 



cheek rein; the Captain swears he na pulls ataal." "Very likely," 

 resumed I ; " but all arms are not so strong as the Captain's." We took 

 up a link or two in his curb chain, however, and my arm found the 

 benefit of it. 



Precisely at the appointed time we were landed at M*Cray's hotel in 

 Aberdeen, where a room and dinner were prepared for us by order of 

 Lord Kintore ; and it was our intention, next morning, to have pro- 

 ceeded to Keith-hall after breakfast. Being, however, aware that his 

 lordship's hounds were then in his Turriff country, and having heard 

 some of Lord Forester's music in the streets — indeed we had observed 

 symptoms of a change of weather, in the shot thrown up from the wheels 

 over the two last stages — it became doubtful whether we should proceed 

 to Keith-hall at all at this time, and whether Mr. Dalyell would not 

 return home to hunt his own hounds on the Monday. But where was 

 David Roup ? We had desired him to come to us at the hotel to receive 

 the usual fee, yet we saw nothing of him that night. But more of this 

 anon. 



Early the next morning (Sunday) a servant from Keith-hall appeared 

 with a letter, altering, as we suspected, our course, and directing us 

 to be at Gash on the Monday, ready to take the field on the Tuesday ; 

 also informing us that we should have an excellent dinner and good 

 company that day at the Provost Blakie's in Aberdeen, who is his 

 lordship's Delphic oracle on all professional matters. As far as myself 

 was concerned this prophecy was fulfilled, but Mr. Dalyell returned to 

 his *' darlings." The cheer was good, the host a man after my ovyn 

 heart, barring his knowing nothing of fox-hounds ; and the '^ company" 

 — consisting of Lord Marcus Hill, Mr. Ferguson, M.P. for Banff, and 



2 N 2 



