The Sunday herald., 1886-10-10
UP ON THE MOOR.

SIP Waller Scott.
UP ON THE MOOR.
"You won't easily find, even in Devon.
shire. prettier spot than Coombe Burleigh.
The score or SO Of thatched, deep porched
cottages, forming the villa proper, lie near
the mouth Of a narrow glen, down which the
Burleigh brook hurries noisily along It's
winding way. A few farm houses lie scat
tered along the steep, wooded side of the
glen, and near them bare patches of rich,
red soil mark the course the plough has
lately taken. Az the head Of the valley q
grand swell of blue moorland rises boldly
up against the sky, here and there lifting
itself into q great grauite tor. For Coombs
Burleigh lies on the edge Of DartmOor; and
all but on the moor there stands, some
mile or two from the the village, the big old
house In which for many generation past
have dwslt the Carews Of Coombs Burleigh.
One morning last shooting season very
comfortable and pleasant little party had
assembled around the loaded breakfast table
at Coombe House; for Squire Carew fairly
brimmed over with hospitality and bonhom-
mie, and his handsome, CHEEKY wife came no
whit behind In ths same delightful virtues.
Then there was Madge Carew, q frank aud
fearless girl of twenty, whose soft black
eyes. raven hair, and creamy complexion
told that tho Squire was not far wrong In
boasting Of her as ''purs Dsvonshire, born
and bred" Just now she Is busily minis
teripg to the creature comfort Of her brother
Tom and his guest, Alsck Fairburn, young
Highland laird, whose acquaintance Tom
had lately made In town, aud in his fathers
4 l.. r. n.n.l
for weeks shooting on the moor.
For some days after the arrival Of the
young men rain had fallen in a downright
and persevering fashion, which made the
Highlander feel at home in his new quarters
at once; but TO day the sun shone oheerily
out, aud all preparations had been made for
a long days sport.
"But you must beware OF the DartmOOr
fogs, Mr.. Fairburn," said MISS Madge, pres
entity. "You know they come down with
extraordinary suddenness; aud it's no joke
to be lost up on the moor in fog, assure
you"
The young laird turned to her with a
smile.
''You forget, Miss Carew, that fog is no
stranger III the Highlands, either, and that
We have our mooTs as we'll as you. must
have proAtsd very little by the deer stalk.
ing at home II mist makes me suddenly
forget the points Of the compass"
"But all the points Of the compass TO-
gether won't save you from tumbling into q
peat hole full Of ink water, or pitching head
first down an old quarry, when the fog is sc
thick you can't see yard before yOu,' per
sisted Madge.
"I think you may make yourself easy on
my account, though, Of course, am honored
by your solicitude. A sportsman must bs
prepared for certain amount of risk, but
have never yet failed to make my head keel
my feet from such dangers as you 30 vividly
oopjure up, Miss Carew.
There was just enough pride In the younl
mans gay tone to check the reply which
rose TO Madge's lips, but not to prevent {
quiet whisper to her pet brother as sh'
stood at the hall door TO watch the start.
"Don't let Mr.. Fairburn wander off alone
Tom, II you can help II. You know our fog
better than he does"
And good long-limbed Tom nod
ded ready assent as lie followed the Squir,
aud his guest down the broad old steps.
The three had done capital morning
work, and covered many mile OF broken
undulstipg moorland, before they sat dowl
to their l O'Clock lunch. So, perhaps,
was no greater wonder that when the goO'
tutu8b mauBHb own idir uduue uau CdIo
fully packed for them had been discusses
with such appetite as four hours stead.
tramping could give, both Tom and tn
Squire should throw themselves luxuriousl
back on the short, warm turf, aud, fr0u
gazing In silence at the fsscy clouds sailin
overhead, sink into one Of those brief, deli
cious slumbers In which alone We taste tn
full enjoyment Of sleep, while their two fo
lowers were busy disposing Of the remains {
the feast.
But Aleck Fairburn was one OF those III
comfortably restless m0rtals for whom eve
such an Indulgence holds out no tsmpti
tion; 80 that though for little while Ii
kept watch over his dozing companions wit
laudable attempt at patience, II needle
only the sight OF large bird sailing slowl
down the wind at some little distance
make the young laird spring to his feet an
seize his gun.
"Thsrs goes heron must have ths
fellow to stuff and pair with the one g,
last year. I'll bs back Ia half an hou
Mitohelmore."
The head keeper looked up from his lunc
with an aggrieved expression on his shrew,
weather-bsaten old face.
"N0w, look'ee here, jan Pearce," he r,
marked. severely, to his subordinate, as !
watched the young fellow depart at lonl
swinging pace, "when us started, tn
blessed mornin', young Squire, he saith
me, 'Mlthe' e'more, said he, 'daunt'ee 60 Il
to lose sight o. that there young gen'lema
cause hem q stranger to these ERE part
But Just put II to zee, jan. BE- II raysoni
BILE 10 ak = man O'my years to 60 all gus
gandering In the midst o. his vittles 7
bain't q goin' to do II, Jan Pearoe !
therel"
"Ees fay, Master Mitchs' more" assent,
the under-keeper, warmly. Gus wants OF
bit o. vittles srl 30 we'll as the quality,
doth. And SO both Squire and young SQui
knoweth, and takes their rest like Chri
tens. But they furrinsrs be puir whess
sort o. bodies-maze as q sheep, the half
'em Lit un go, maister; be'em big enoul
TO take care o. hizzel'; and have bit mo
pasty in pace, do'ss now 70
So the "furrineI" was left TO pursue L
prey in solitude. On and still on aapp
that heron before him; now alightIng, I
he was almost tempted to risk long sht
then slowly rising and sailing away out
sight. Nearly, but never quite. The hi
might have been an evil spirit luring I
! pursuer to destruction, 30 pertinaoiously d
II contrive to keep alive the excitement
the chase. Aud Mr.. Fairburn was not on
a keen sportsman, but au obstinate Seotc
man, who never knew when he WAS beate
Time aud distance alike faded from
thoughts in the ardor of the pursuit, un
he was at length recalled to sense of I
situation by finding his further progrs
checked by little river which wound
+, way along the bottom Of a steep ravine, az
standing on the edge of the clid, had I
modification to watch the heron Flap SLOW
away into the blue distance. Then, wi
hasty ejaculation, Aleck turned away a
L took out his watch.
"By Jovei nearly four o'clook, and
4 ! nromisad To la hack In halt An lOuri n