131 



Like the corpse of an outcast abandoned to weather, 



Till the mountain winds wasted the tenantless clay ; 

 Nor yet quite deserted, though lowly extended, 

 For faithful in death, his mute favourite attended, 

 The much-loved remains of her master defended, 

 And chased the hill fox and the raven away." 



The shepherd immediately acquainted some 

 of the inhabitants of the dale with what he 

 had seen, who, on proceeding to the spot* 

 found the skeleton lying at the foot of a 

 precipitous crag, with the skull detached 

 from it, and lying about seven yards off. 

 His fishing-rod was at the top of the crag, 

 and his small bundle was discovered about 

 half way down. The flesh of the body was 

 nearly consumed ; probably by foxes, or 

 wild birds, which haunt this part of the 

 country, and prey on the carcasses of the 

 sheep and lambs which die among the hills. 

 The manner of his death is uncertain, though 

 it appears most likely that he had lost 

 his way, and fallen over the crag during the 

 fog. Some persons however have imagined, 

 that being exhausted with cold and fatigue, 



