WILD CATS. 



257 



blistered, or rather neglected, a blistered heel : and the 

 fag of yesterday has so excoriated the surface, as to 

 make it imperative upon me to lie by for a little. Antony 

 engages to effect a perfect cure by to-morrow ; and here 

 I remain tete-d-te'te with the otter-killer. 



The old man proceeded skilfully enough ; he lanced 

 the blisters, and then applied the cuticle which covers 

 a sheep's kidney, and which is very similar in appear- 

 ance and effect to what we call " gold-beaters' leaf." 

 This application prevented the heel from being frayed 

 by the stocking. To the remainder of the foot he 

 rubbed a hot mixture of tallow and whisky ; and his 

 remedy was " the sovereignest thing on earth," for in 

 twelve hours the cure was effected. 



While he operated on my infirm foot, he amused me 

 with one of his interminable stories. He says, by the 

 " mother's side," that I and my cousin are descended 

 from a lady called Rose Roche. When his leech-craft 

 was ended he retired " to stretch upon the bed." John 

 was too deeply engaged in culinary affairs to favour me 

 with his company, and having no resource besides, 

 I have been obliged to amuse myself by transcribing 

 the legend oj Rose Roche, and become thus a chronicler 

 of the otter-killer. 



