SPILLET-FISHING. I73 



occurred some ten miles up the river. By some unhappy 

 mischance, 1 took out a flask of condemned powder, and 

 the accident was not discovered until it was too late 

 to be remedied. To dry the powder was the alter- 

 native ; and we repaired for this purpose to the only 

 house within four miles of the place, a shieling occupied 

 by an old herdsman and his wife. 



" The powder was spread upon a wooden platter, and 

 laid at a sufficient distance from the fire ; and while I 

 stirred it with a ramrod at a distance, one of my atten- 

 dants conceived it a fitting opportunity to roast a cast 

 of potatoes in the embers. Both operations went forward 

 successfully. The powder was almost dry — the potatoes 

 nearly roasted, when my follower ingeniously con- 

 trived to introduce a coal into the loose powder. This 

 incident, though trifling in itself, made an immediate 

 alteration in affairs. The roof of the cabin was dry 

 as tinder, while tow, flax, and other combustible matters, 

 were stored immediately above the hearth. In a moment 

 all was in flames — the potato-roaster blown into the 

 corner, and I, either by fear or gunpowder, capsized 

 in another direction. 



" The agony of the poor old woman who, fortu- 

 nately, was outside the hovel when the explosion took 

 place, was pitiable. In five minutes her cabin was a 

 ruin — and to her that wretched shieling was worth a 

 marble palace. For a time she could not be pacified. 

 In vain she was assured * that the master would build 

 her a new house, wider, and bigger, and warmer, ay, and 

 that should have a wooden door ! ' but, like another 

 Rachel, she mourned, and refused to be comforted. 



** Two or three days removed her sorrow, I sent 

 assistance, and, progressing, like another Aladdin, the 



