100 EILDON HILLS. 



for a space he eluded my vision, and when the firing 

 ceased, I detected him in his form couched between two 

 blocks of granite ; " for he kent," he said, " that it was 

 no canny to dander aboot, and disturb the patrigs." 

 And I think this was judicious ; but it did not seem to 

 account for the paleness of his complexion. 



My bag was now sufficiently full ; and in returning 

 to the hotel I noticed the form of the Eildon Hills, 

 which, we have since been credibly informed, were 

 cloven in three by the art of gramarye. It was then 

 that I discovered that my companion's mind was com- 

 pletely subdued by superstition. 



" Thae hills are pleasant to the view," said he ; " and 

 it is the custom on the seventh day for people to ascend 

 the middle one, and enjoy the prospect. On the last 

 Sabbath I gaed up ; and instead of the hill being throng 

 as usual, I fund mysel alone, and when I was near the 

 tap a sudden mirkness cam owre me, and I sat doon on 



' the sod in a cauld sweet. Then I cast my een up ; and 

 I saw, as plain as I see ye the noo, twa men houking 

 a grave by the light of a torch ; and ither men joined 

 them, walking twa by twa, wi' pale lights. And when 

 they cam to the grave, they gaed to the far side of it ; 

 and an auld wife cam in front wi' a lang white stick 

 in her hand, and a light like a star a tap o' it : she had 

 an awfu' beard, and beckoned me to the grave. Ou 

 it was dreadfu' ! I believe I swooned away, as it was 

 rigcht I should ; and when I cam to mysel, all was 



. vanishit, and it was as mirk as pick. And a' this day I 

 thoucht that your gun was the instrument that was to 

 pit me intill that grave." 



