THE HUMBLE GAERON. 289 



A day was fixed for their competition, and Baillie accom- 

 panied the stranger to Ben-Ormin. 



He thought himself a stronger man than his blustering- 

 visitor, and was determined to vindicate his slighted prowess 

 by making the challenger appear as ridiculous as his boast- 

 ing had been offensive : little recked he of the consequences. 



Now this, our Sutherland man, had no aversion to any 

 awkward trick or gambol, by means of which he could 

 distress his opponent. He was, moreover, learned in tradi- 

 tions, and had heard in what manner a Danish giant was 

 said to have been captured by a man of diminutive size ; 

 he, therefore, privately directed one of his men to kill a 

 deer, and to spread the fresh skin of the animal immediately 

 within his bothy, with the inner side uppermost: when 

 Baillie and his challenger arrived at the door, the latter was 

 desired to enter first with many terms of courtesy, and as 

 soon as he stepped upon the slippery surface of the fresh 

 hide, his heels tripped up, and down he came upon his back. 

 Whether or not Angus lent him a helping hand in his tum- 

 bling propensity, tradition does not say ; but I should rather 

 think he did, for the fall was so heavy, that before he could 

 recover himself, the said Angus Baillie, of Uppat, rolled the 

 skin round him, and bound him in it with some cords he 

 had provided for the purpose. He was sufficiently kind and 

 considerate to leave his head free and exposed, nothing 

 more ; and thus Master Bobadil, or Rodomonte if you please, 

 exhibited a pretty fair specimen of an Egyptian mummy, 

 or an Italian bambino. 



In what manner the man in durance delivered his senti- 

 ments on this touching occasion, tradition does not inform 

 us. But, as he could not walk in this plight, Baillie, with 

 mock humanity, carried him to Dunrobin Castle on his 

 shoulders, where he had previously been taunting and boast- 

 ing ; nay, more, when he approached that fair pile, he was 

 complaisant enough to give him his full honours, by tying 

 a large branching pair of antlers to his shaggy head. The 

 stout porter, having then obtained an interview with his 

 superior, exclaimed, with mock solemnity : 



" A wise man is known by the truth of his prophecy, and 

 here I, the humble garron, am carrying home the horned 



