POACHER'S FARE. 259 



were stuck into the earthen hearth, the gilse was placed 

 before the burning peats, and turned occasionally. Soon 

 after a suspicious-looking piece of meat was placed over 

 the embers; and when all was cooked, John placed it 

 upon the box before his chief, saying "John More's 

 fattest dish is ready:" adding, that the salmon* was 

 from one of his lordship's rivers, and the meat the breast 

 of a deer. Lord Reay asked for a knife and some salt ; 

 "but John replied " that teeth and hands were of little 

 use, if they could not master dead fish and flesh ; that the 

 deer seasoned their flesh with salt on the hill, whilst the 

 herring could not do so in the sea ; and that the salmon, 

 like the Durness butter, was better without salt." 



John produced, also, some smuggled brandy ; and 

 pressed his lordship to eat and drink heartily, making 

 many remarks on the manliness of eating a good breakfast. 



The chief thought this a good opportunity to endea- 

 vour to make a proper impression upon his lawless host ; 

 and after having been handsomely regaled by plunder from 

 his own forest, determined to act with such generosity 

 towards More as would keep him within reasonable bounds 

 in future. 



" I am well pleased, John (said he), that although you 

 invade the property of others, you do not conceal the 

 truth, and that you have freely given me the best enter- 

 tainment that your depredations on my property have 

 enabled you to bestow. I will, therefore, allow you to go 

 occasionally to Fionavon in search of a deer, if you will 

 engage not to interfere with deer or any sort of game in 

 any other part of my forest." 



* A gilse is supposed to be a young salmon, 

 s 2 



