272 ROB DOUN. 



fada, mallaicht aige,' that is, a slender, black, long, wicked 

 gun which he had. They had not proceeded beyond a 

 mile from home when they came full upon a small herd of 

 deer. Rob was not to be restrained. He fired, and shot 

 two of them dead upon the spot. His wife, before in 

 extrem econsternation, was not now to be pacified. She 

 imagined that her husband had just sealed his doom. He 

 beseeched her to be silent. ( Go home,' said he, ( and 

 send for them ; if I return not, you shall have more need 

 for them : ' but saluting her, he added, in kindlier terms, 

 'Fear not, it shall go hard with me if I am not soon with 

 you again to have my share.' The truth was, that, though 

 threatened by the authorities, there was scarcely one of the 

 country gentlemen who would not have gone any length 

 to protect the bard from the violence of the law." 



This action, and some satirical ballads written by our 

 bard, created a coolness between Rob Doun and his chief; 

 but he obtained protection afterwards in the family of 

 Colonel Mackay. 



I conclude this notice with a short extract from one of 

 his translated songs, written after a long absence from the 

 object of his love, who eventually proved faithless : 

 "the home-sickness it expresses appears to be almost as 

 much that of the deer-stalker, as of the loving swain." 



" Oh, for the day for turning my face homeward, 



That I may see the maiden of beauty : 

 Joyful will it be to me to be with thee, 

 Fair girl with the long heavy locks ! 



" Choice of all places for deer-hunting 



Are the brindled rock and the ridge ! 

 How sweet at evening, to be dragging the slain deer 

 Downwards along the Piper's Cairn ! 



