DONALD THE GILLIE. 15 



proprid persond, to one of the wildest " straths " in the 

 Highlands, while I " take a header " in medias res. 



On the first morning after our arrival at the hospit- 

 able abode of our friends we sallied forth, fishing-rod 

 in hand, Donald Mackay and the landing-net in atten- 

 dance, intent on attacking a salmon as a beginning. 



But, before proceeding further, I must give you a 

 description of the said Donald, for whom I have con- 

 ceived a great admiration ; and would that I could do 

 him justice I Picture to yourself, then, a lad who has 

 seen but sixteen summers, yet not a hair's breadth 

 short of six foot, and broad and well-built withal. He 

 wore a short jacket of black and white check, which 

 showed off" his proportions to advantage, his " trewes " 

 and plaid being of the same material, made from the 

 wool of the sheep that roam on his native hills, and 

 wrought in his own Highland home. From beneath a 

 small bonnet his long flaxen hair streamed down in 

 thick clusters ; his manly countenance ruddy with the 

 fresh bloom of health, which in Scotland imparts a 

 peculiar richness to the complexion ; while his eye 

 beamed with intelligence, and his whole frame displayed 

 a union of strength and agility rarely to be found. A 

 glance told that he was capable of, and accustomed to, 

 great bodily exertion ; and, indeed, though his years 

 are yet so few, many is the adventure in which Donald 

 has taken his share. In climbing his dangerous way 

 to the eagle's eyrie, ever perched on some almost if not 

 completely inaccessible crag, and often some hundreds 

 of feet above any safe footing, in saving the life of 

 the sheep, which, tempted by the sweetness of the grass 

 in such localities, often tread their way along the 

 narrow ledges of the rocks, until at length they find 

 themselves unable to turn round, and, having no idea 

 of retrograde motion, become terrified, and either throw 



