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History of the Wolf in Scotland. A Supplement, By 

 James Hardy. 



In my " History of the Wolf in Scotland," I gave such 

 local traditions of the existence of that animal as a native, as 

 I could find on record. Some others, which I now bring 

 under notice, supply further details. The first is nearly in 

 the simple language of the old Highlander, from whom I 

 took it down. 



A boy travelling through the wild country between In- 

 vernessshire and Argyle, at the head of Glencoe, lost himself 

 in the moors, in a misty day. At the last he came to a shed 

 or hut, and ventured into it, and there was a bit loft or nest 

 in it where straw was laid, and a bit ladder to go up. He 

 goes up the ladder and rolls himself up amongst the straw, 

 and keeps his eye on what was below. Tn time, there came 

 a great big fellow — who, he understood, was a robber — who 

 struck a light to kindle a fire, and was seen to have plenty of 

 venison, of which he made ready his supper. He then 

 stretched himself " on the breid o' his back " and fell asleep. 

 In time, an animal, that the boy took for a big dog, pushed 

 into the hut, and though the fire was still " open" he saw the 

 beast's eyes glancing in the light. It stood a while, and then 

 came stealing up to the big man's feet, and slipped along 

 till it reached his neck ; when, in a moment, it laid hold of, 

 and rove at his throat, throwing itself at the same time on to 

 his breast. The man gripped it also, and fought with it, but 

 he could not rise, and it was all over with him, and the great 

 dog " sookit his bluid." It then looked up to the loft, and 

 the boy was terrified lest it should come up and worry him 

 also. But it got out at the door, and set up " two or three 

 great gowls," and he " saw it no more that night." In the 

 morning the mist had scattered, and the boy afraid to be 

 beside a dead man, took to his heels. In escaping he met 

 " the herd," to whom he told what he had seen. He then 

 returned to his home and advised his father of what had 

 happened. " Oh ! you silly fool," cries the father, " what a 

 prize is lost, it would make you and me right all the days of 

 our lives." But when they went back to search the robber's 

 pockets, there was not a copper left. Not long after " the 

 herd " took a farm, and became wealthy. But now for the 

 wolf (for such it was) ; the country was roused, and they 

 tracked him with dogs through the Deil's Stairs (the Devil's 



