100 His Work at Night. [CHAP. VI. 
On Saturdays he could only make his observations late 
at night. He must be home by twelve o’clock. Sabbath- 
breaking is an intolerable sin in Scotland, and Edward was 
never a Sabbath-breaker. It was a good thing for his men- 
tal and physical health that there was a seventh day during 
which he could not and would not work. But for his sev- 
enth day’s rest, he would have worked night and day. On 
Sundays he went to church with his wife and family. Aft- 
er evening service he took off his best clothes, and donned 
his working dress. Then he took a few hours’ sleep in his 
chair or lying across his bed, before setting out. He thus 
contrived to secure a few hours’ observation on Monday 
mornings before six o’clock. 
His neighbors used to say of him, “It is a stormy night 
that keeps that man Edward in the house.” In fact, his 
neighbors were completely bewildered about his doings. 
They gave vent to all sorts of surmises about his wander- 
ings by night. Exaggerated rumors spread about among 
the towns-people. He went with a gun: Surely he 
couldn’t be a poacher or a burglar? That was impossible. 
It was well known that he lived soberly and honestly, de- 
nying himself many things, and never repining at his lot, 
though living a life of hardship. But what could he mean 
by wandering about at night among wild, lonely, and ghost- 
haunted places? They wouldn’t have slept in Boyndie 
church-yard for worlds! And yet that was one of Ed- 
ward’s favorite spots! 
He went out in fine starlit nights, in moonlight nights, 
and in cold and drizzling nights. Weather never daunted 
him. When it rained, he would look out for a hole in a 
bank, and thrust himself into it, feet foremost. He kept 
his head and his gun out, watching and waiting for any cas- 
ualties that might happen. He knew of two such holes, 
both in sand-banks and both in woods, which he occasional- 
ly frequented. They were foxes’ or badgers’ dens. If any 
of these gentry were inside when he took up his position, 
