A PLEA FOR THE WASTES. 17 



berth at the top. Peter passed the eaglet to the first man, 

 who, in .like manner, gave it safely to him at the top. 

 But, he having most likely given it a nervous twitch, it 

 seized him fiercely. Down he fell on his back, dread of 

 toppling over into the abyss drowning all sense of pain. 

 Up came the other shepherd, but, when he saw the man 

 moaning and helpless, he was seized with such an uncon- 

 trollable fit of laughter that he could give no assistance. 

 When Peter reached the top, he drew man and. eaglet 

 upon firm ground, and then extricated the claw. As soon 

 as he found himself upon level ground and free, he 

 rushed at his jocose neighbour, and Peter had some 

 difficulty to prevent a battle. It was a mortal affront to 

 mention an eagle in this man's presence ever after. 



But we have now got back to Peter's cottage. Loch 

 Tulla lies glistering under a burning sun : I see the land- 

 lord at Inveruran slily peeping round the corner, anxious 

 to discover whether we had returned empty-handed. My 

 appetite also warns me that it is past nine; so, having 

 appeased it by a subsoil of u halesome parritch," and a 

 top-dressing of fresh eggs, " Now, landlord, out with the 

 1 shan-dra-dam.' " * 



My jolting drive to Cladich in my "chariot" was not 

 over till towards two o'clock, but the keen air of the 

 mountains had completely effaced the recollection of my 



* The name given by a rural minister of the Kirk, who sported one of 

 these vehicles, to a little spring-cart with a seat across for the " dames." 

 " The minister's man " could never be persuaded to attempt this learned 

 word, and would persist, in spite of him, to call it his " chariot," as the 

 nearest approach he could master. 



B 



