CH. I. OLD KEEPER AT ROSEHALL. 5 



my attendant, and found him exactly on the same 

 spot where I had seen him twelve years ago, 

 winking at the morning sun in a manner peculiar 

 to owls and inhabitants of cottages full of peat 

 smoke. I doubted his recognizing me after so 

 many years, but was much gratified at the pleasure 

 and readiness with which he did so, and at the vivid 

 recollection which he had of the corrie in which "• my 

 honour" had shot my first stag under his guidance 

 and tuition — his tender inquiry too after my rifle, 

 " the likes of which never put down a deer in the 

 country." I returned the compliment by begging 

 to be shown my old acquaintance, " the double - 

 barrel," a most venerable flint gun, with singularly 

 eccentric and unreachable triggers, which no fore- 

 finger but his own could ever pull. This ancient 

 gun, however, in his hands had laid low many an 

 antlered head. Though he affected to despise all 

 new inventions, I had a recollection of his always 

 preferring a shot with one of my percussion guns 

 to the uncertain chance of his own flint and steel. 

 Many an old story connected with stag and corrie, 

 shealing and whisky bottle, the old fellow called to 

 my recollection ; and I really saw with regret the 

 last of his weather-beaten face, as he bowed and 

 gesticulated to me as long as we continued in sight, 

 I am afraid that my companions must have thought 



