56 ANGLING SKETCHES 



given by Hogg in 'The Spy,' 1810-11, pp. 101-3. 

 I offer an abridgment of the narrative. 



'About the end of last century Major Mac- 

 pherson and a party of friends went out to hunt 

 on the Grampians between Athole and Badenoch. 

 They were highly successful, and in the after- 

 noon they went into a little bothy, and, having 

 meat and drink, they abandoned themselves to 

 jollity. 



1 During their merry-making a young man 

 entered whose appearance particularly struck and 

 somewhat shocked Macpherson ; the stranger 

 beckoned to the Major, and he followed him 

 instantly out of the bothy. 



' When they parted, after apparently having 

 had some earnest conversation, the stranger was 

 out of sight long before the Major was half-way 

 back, though only twenty yards away. 



' The Major showed on his return such evident 

 marks of trepidation that the mirth was marred 

 and no one cared to ask him questions. 



' This was early in the week, and on Friday the 

 Major persuaded his friends to make a second 



