126 The Hunting Grounds 



tions placed upon it announced the satisfaction of all 

 the spectators. 



The old Doctor, who had been rubbing his eyes 

 and twisting himself uncomfortably in his chair for 

 some time, now burst out into a dolorous grunt, and 

 with a serio-comic expression of countenance ex- 

 claimed, "Ugh! ugh! ugh! Weel! weel! Dinna 

 ye believe in the de'il and a' his works noo, as yere 

 catechism says ? but I reckon that was no a part o' 

 the bringing up o' the likes o' ye. But, oh! dear 

 inon, was it no just a fearfu' sight ? This chiel felt 

 his e'en maist greeting, an' his temples bursting, when 

 the auld heathen streck'd his gullie wi' sic a like thud 

 into his sonsie little bairn as coolly as if he was open- 

 ing a haggis, and she just felt as if she couldna thole 

 it; for brimstane smelt right strong, as the auld 

 bleezin' hornie went down on his marrow-banes to the 

 little ne'er-do-well stane kelpie ; and whilst the carle 

 was in that position this half-scared infant just peeped 

 twice at his nether end so as to mak' sure there was 

 no dark, ill-looking appendage attached or hid in the 

 folds o' his cloth." 



" It was a magnificent trick," said W , " for 



though I knew what was to follow, having seen it 

 before, and studiously watched every motion, I have 

 not gained the slightest clue towards finding it out, 

 and I cannot understand it at all." 



" It was certainly an extraordinary deception/' I 



