CHAP, xxxiv.] A PERSECUTED SHEPHERD. 2(!7 



" Oh, but we'll give him a bonny fleg for spoiling our sport the 

 night," said Malcolm. Accordingly Donald and he concealed 

 themselves in the burn, one above and the other below the point 

 at which the shepherd appeared likely to cross it, while I re- 

 mained hid in a hollow of the moss, a quiet spectator of their 

 attack on the poor fellow's nerves. 



The shepherd had just put his foot in the burn, when Malcolm 

 shouted at the top of his voice, " Willie Young, Willie Young," 

 this being the man's name. He stopped short, and with a fright- 

 ened look at seeing no one, was going on his way again, when 

 Donald took up the chorus, *' Willie Young, Willie Young." 

 " Wha 's you ? " said the shepherd, turning towards Donald. 

 " Willie Young, Willie Young," then shouted Malcolm, and at 

 his voice the unhappy proprietor of the name wheeled round as 

 on a pivot. I could not refrain from joining in the persecution, 

 and Willie Young was kept for ten minutes, turning from side to 

 side, on hearing his name called by his unseen tormentors, till he 

 got so terribly frightened that I thought it as well to show myself, 

 or I firmly believe the man would have gone mad. I never saw 

 a poor fellow more relieved in my life than he was on seeing that 

 his persecutors were mere flesh and blood like himself, and not 

 spirits of tint air or flood as he had imagined. Having laughed 

 at him for his fright, and appeased his somewhat reasonable 

 anger, we found out from him that this stag was constantly about 

 the same place, and had got so accustomed to seeing the shepherd 

 pass to and fro, that he invariably returned to the same glen within 

 a few hours. 



It was getting late, so we postponed attacking him till the next 

 morning. The shepherd also told us that although the stag had 

 not particularly fine antlers, that he was one of the heaviest and 

 largest deer that had been in that part of the country for some 

 years. He knew him by his large track, and also by his colour, 

 which was peculiarly light. We accompanied Willie Young 

 home to his domicile ; and having taken our frugal supper of 

 porridge and milk, followed, however, by some whisky-and- 

 water of no mean flavour and strength, which Mr. Young 

 informed us in confidence had been made by some " lads down 

 the glen yonder," we retired to our sleeping-places. For my 

 own part, I took up my quarters in the building dignified by the 



