36 DEER -STALKING. 



pardon for interrupting them, and cleared it up to their 

 utter amazement. His memory is still excellent, and 

 nothing gives him greater delight than old traditions, 

 legends, &c. The last time I saw him, he gave us an 

 account of some of the Eoman Catholic bishops of Scotland 

 with characteristic anecdotes. In politics he has his own 

 peculiar opinions, is particularly jealous of the encroach- 

 ments of the " Great Bear," as he calls Russia, and thinks 

 the Allies committed an irreparable error in not partition- 

 ing France after the battle of Waterloo. No present finds 

 greater favour than the last Newspaper ; and it is curious 

 to see the old man devouring its contents without spec- 

 tacles. He would not be a true Highlander were he not 

 a firm believer in all their superstitions. Two instances of 

 second-sight he related to me as having happened to 

 himself; although he is very unwilling to talk upon the 

 subject, and I have often noticed his evasive replies to 

 those who questioned him. I premise my account by 

 saying, that wherever he is known, his word has never 

 been doubted, and I would believe it as implicitly as that 

 of the proudest peer in the realm. One day, when return- 

 ing very tired from some sporting expedition, he met an 

 acquaintance, accompanied by a young man whom he also 

 perfectly well knew. The first stopped to ask " what 

 sport?" he gave a short answer over his shoulder, and 

 saw the young man walk on. That afternoon he heard 

 he had been killed by a fall from his cart, at the very time 

 of this rencontre. Upon questioning his companion the 

 next day, he said there was no person with him. The 



