S6 ANGLING SKETCHES 



given by Hogg in 'The Spy,' iSio-ii, pp. 101-3. 

 I offer an abridgment of the narrative. 



' About the end of last centur}- ]\Iajor ]\Iac- 

 pherson and a party of friends went out to hunt 

 on the Grampians between Athole and Badenoch. 

 The)- were highlj- successful, and in the after- 

 noon they went into a little both}-, and, having 

 meat and drink, they abandoned themselves to 

 jollity. 



' During their merry-making a young man 

 entered whose appearance particularly struck and 

 somewhat shocked IMacpherson ; the stranger 

 beckoned to the ]\Iajor, and he followed him 

 instanth- out of the bothy. 



' When they parted, after apparent!}- ha\-ing 

 had some earnest conversation, the stranger was 

 out of sight long before the jMajor was half-wa}- 

 back, though only twenty }-ards awa}-. 



' The 3.Iajor showed on his return such evident 

 marks of trepidation that the mirth was marred 

 and no one cared to ask him questions. 



' This was earl}- in the week, and on Frida}- the 

 ]\Iajor persuaded his friends to make a second 



