THE HUMBLE GARROX. 381 



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 tumbling 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 Ro- 

 domonte, 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 

 boasting ; 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 stag that wandered into strange ground." The 

 stranger was liberated by the gentlemen present, and very 

 prudently marched home with the least possible delay. 



Hunting parties in the Sutherland forests were formerly 

 upon an extended scale ; there may still be seen the ruins 

 of two very large hunting lodges of the description which 



