CHAP. YI. 
THE HIGHLAND MAJOR. 
33 
moment np trotted the major’s fat old charger, 
neighing as he reached the gate, glad to get back to 
his stable, but without his master. This looked still 
more serious; and directing six men to follow me at 
the 4 double,’ I went in search of the 6 meegar.’ 
As I said before there was a run down-hill of 
about 300 yards before reaching the river, the ford of 
which was about thirty yards wide, and not quite knee- 
deep ; and if I had had a gun with me I should have 
shot the commanding officer, who was in the middle of 
the ford, making such a splash that I took him for 
a sea-cow or hippopotamus. He was striking out 
most manfully and trying to swim, in order to keep 
his head above water, but was so drunk that he 
could not stand. 
The Highlanders stood with their arms at the 
border ’ and their other arms akimbo, and were laugh¬ 
ing enough to kill themselves; but not one bit could 
I get them to go into the water and bring the major 
out. At last I had to give a peremptory order, and 
they marched in and brought him to dry ground. 
The old soldier had always a habit of clearing his 
throat before speaking, and directly he saw me he did 
this once or twice, and then continued : 4 Um—gad, 
Bisset—horse vicious — kicked up — fell—soft, like 
feather-bed.’ The fact is the major had managed to 
sit his horse until he got to the water, and when the 
D 
