46 LIFE AT ROSEHALL. 



I arrived at the trysting-place, which was a peculiarly-shaped 

 large rock, standing in the midst of a great extent of ground 

 covered with gray stones, arid rocks of a similar description, but all 

 much smaller. The rock itself rejoiced in a Gaelic name signi- 

 fying the " Devil's Stone." It was a curious spot a wide and 

 gentle slope of a hill perfectly covered with these gray stones, 

 looking as if they had dropped in a shower from the clouds. 

 They ended abruptly near the foot of the hill, and formed almost 

 a straight line, as if some giant workman had done his best to 

 clear the remainder of the slope, and had picked all the stones 

 off that part, as farmers do off' a grass field. Upwards towards 

 the top of the hill they increased, if possible, in number, and the 

 summit appeared like one mass of rock. Through all this desola- 

 tion of stone there were several strips of heather, or withered- 

 looking grass, not much wider, however, than footpaths. These 

 served as passes for any sheep and deer which might fancy 

 journeying through them. 



I reached my point of rendezvous, and sat down to wait 

 patiently for Donald, with my face turned in the direction 

 whence he was to arrive. I knew that, unless detained by 

 any quite unforeseen accident, he would arrive rather before 

 than after his time, as he was to bring me something in the 

 shape of luncheon ; the liquid part of which I was confident he 

 would not forget. 



I waited some time in this solitude, without hearing or seeing 

 any living creature to enliven the dreary landscape before me, 

 with the exception of a pair of ravens who passed at no great 

 height above me, uttering their harsh croaks of ill omen as they 

 winged their way in a direct course, to feast on the remains of 

 some dead sheep or deer. 



My attention was suddenly roused, however, by hearing a 

 couple of shots in quick succession, the sound coming from the 

 direction in which I expected Donald. As the reports did not 

 appear to be at any great distance, I rose with the intention of 

 going to meet him ; though I could not understand what he was 

 shooting at, it being quite against both his and my ideas of pro- 



