236 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



cane on the ground with all the force and dignity of a 

 bailie. In the meantime our friend was so absorbed in 

 his work that he seemed wholly unconscious of this 

 person's presence, till he was aroused by the little man 

 himself, who said, in a loud tone, and with an air of 

 consummate consequence, stamping a tombstone at the 

 same time with his staff of office, — 



" Weel, friend, what may ye be doing here ?" 



Tintem, looking back over his shoulder, said, in his 

 absent manner, — "I think he must have been buried at 

 the eastern end of the Abbey; am I right, my good sir?" 



" Aye, aye — I thought so, — I ken weel eneuch what 

 ye're after ; ye are ane o' thae chiels that gang aboot 

 to raise the dead bodies o' the departed corpses ; — Od, 

 that's a guid ane !" 



Tintem (still sketching, and speaking abstractedly), 

 " I'd give something to see old Michael Scott's tomb." 



" Nae doot ye would ; but I'll tak' guid tent to hae 

 a sure hand or twae to watch yer howking tricks the 

 nicht." 



So saying, " the little round fat oily man " marched 

 off with great dignity, muttering, " Od, that's a guid 

 ane ! disturbing the dead bodies o' the corpses ! He 

 shall gang afore the Sherra'." 



It seems my unlucky friend was doomed to a con- 

 tinued interruption of his studies ; for no sooner had 

 the man in office departed than some old women came 

 and stood over him for a very considerable time, and 

 occasionally interrupted his view ; one of them at 

 length said pithily to her companions, — " Hech, sirs, 

 this is idle wark ! let's awa' to the praaties." 



