22 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



and taken the eggs of the scart or cormorant for 

 the gentry to eat. (I have a book in my posses- 

 sion which states that the Greenlanders refuse to 

 eat these ; but the writers of books are not always 

 to be relied on.) 



From his native mountains and straths the man 

 had come to this southern county as head-keeper ; 

 but his determined course and straightforward hon- 

 esty had only made enemies for him ; false tongues 

 found a too ready listener in the gentleman who had 

 tempted him away from his own country, and he 

 had lost his situation. Just now, for want of some- 

 thing better to do, he was digging stone. 



Another specimen of " drift " I came across in the 

 shape of a sailor, who had anchored amongst these 

 hills. He had served in the Naval Brigade, and 

 seen some rough work. 



At the top of one of the highest hills, in a mere 

 hut of the roughest description, standing on a little 

 clearing surrounded by firs, a solitary keeper lived 

 with his dog. Magnificent scenery lay all about, 

 but none shared the sight with him ; the sun rose 

 and set on his loneliness. Yet he told me he did 

 not in the least mind that, only when the storms 



