54 AN OLD GAEL. 



that he had been connected with the " smuggling 

 interest," and he was known to have been an extensive 

 poacher ; but he had been openly detected or convicted 

 of neither. Within the last few years, however, as the 

 natural burdens of an age now bordering closely on a 

 century became heavy upon him, he had given up his 

 questionable occupation, and kept to his home, like an 

 honest man. 



Crammed to the muzzle with old recollections, 

 legends, and experiences, to those who could listen and 

 comprehend, his recitals of bygone scenes and days 

 were full of interest ; but, unfortunately for us, he 

 prided himself on his Gaelic ; and possessed of a 

 melancholy presentiment that the day was not far 

 distant when the tongue of the Southron was to 

 supersede it altogether, Bob treasured the language of 

 his Celtic forefathers with so jealous a watchfulness, 

 that he would not himself give utterance to a syllable 

 of English if he could avoid it, that at least his own 

 conscience might be clear from the guilt of having cast 

 off an old and valuable friend, and having lent a hand 

 towards blotting out one from the Babel- born family of 

 tongues. We had been told by our friend the Laird 

 that to hear Rob recite an adventure in his native 

 language was to listen to a recital in both the language 

 and the spirit of Ossian, but that this we should in a 

 great measure lose in the English interpretation. 



Donald, however, gave us to understand that, under 

 the influence of a modest amount of whiskey, the spirit 

 of this aged Gael might be induced to lay aside its 

 jealousy of the Sassenach, and indulge us in English as 

 good as that our " ainsels " could use, a hint which 

 we resolved to profit by. 



On reaching the shieling where Bob abode, which 





