110 MACPHERSON OF BRAEKAELY. 



he see, than he took to his heels, incontinently, without even 

 warning his master of the danger. Macpherson, however, 

 being an active resolute man, and expert at his weapons? 

 succeeded in killing the old wolf as well as the cubs; 

 and in coming out of the den espied his servant about a 

 mile off, to whom he beckoned; and with scarcely a 

 remark upon his cowardly conduct, told him, that as it 

 was now late, he intended to remain that night in a bothy 

 at Dalenluncart, a little distance off. They accordingly 

 proceeded to this bothy, and it was quite dark by the time 

 they reached it. 



" Macpherson, on putting his hand on the bed to 

 procure dry heather for lighting a pipe, discovered a dead 

 body ; and without taking any notice of the circumstance 

 merely remarked, ' I don't like this bothy ; we will 

 proceed to Callaig, (about a mile off,) where we shall be 

 better accommodated.' They accordingly went to this 

 other bothy ; and on arriving there, Macpherson pretended 

 that he had left his powder-horn in the bothy they had 

 just quitted, and desired his servant to go after it, telling 

 him that he would find it upon the bed. The servant did as 

 he was desired ; but instead of finding the powder-horn he 

 placed his hand upon the dead man ; which, to one of his 

 poor nerves, was a terrible shock. He then hurried back 

 in great agitation; and, on reaching the other bothy, 

 found it, to his great dismay, dark and deserted, his 

 master having set off homewards so soon as he had 

 started for the powder-horn. Terrified beyond measure 

 at this second event, he proceeded home, a distance of 

 about twelve miles of dreary hill, where he arrived early 

 in the morning; but the fright had nearly cost him his 



