The times., 1893-02-17
NIpNAppen
I TIE EADVENTVRES1
)oF RAVID BAEoUR = SEsS 1SS V5L)
1kosEsT Ioyy SThtNsoN.
[Chopter XIV Continued.

True, met plenty of people, grubbing
in little miserable fields that would not
keep cat, or herding little kline about
the bigness of asses. The highland
dress being forbidden by law since the
rebellion, and the people condemned to
the lowland habit. which they much
disliked, it was strange to see the va
riety of their array. Some went bare,
only for hanging cloak or greatcoat,
and carried their trousers on their backs
like q useless burden; some had made
an imitation of the tartan with little
particolored stripes, patched together
like an old wife's quilt; others again
still wore the highland philibeg, but by
putting few stitches between the legs
transformed it into q pair of trousers
like a Dutchman's. All those make
shifts were condemned and punished,
for the law was harshly applied, in
hopes to break up the clan spirit; but in
that out of the way sea bound isle
there were few to make remarks and
fewer to tell tales.
At last, about eight at night, and al
ready very weary, l came to q lone
house, where | asked admittance and
was refused, until bethought me Of the
power of money in so poor country,
and held up one of my guineas in my
finger and thumb. Thereupon the man
of the house, who had hitherto pre-
tended to have no English, and driven
me from his door by signals, suddenly
began to speak as clearly as was need
full, and agreed for five shillings to give
me q nights lodging and guide me the
next day to Torosay.
slept uneasily that night, fearing
should be robbed; but | might have
spared myself the pain, for my host was
no robber, only miserably poor and a
great cheat. He was not alone in his
poverty, for the next morning we must
go about five miles to the house of what
lie called rich man to have one of my
guineas changed.
This was perhaps rich man for Null;
he would have scarce been thought so
in the south, for it took all he had the
whole house was turned upside down
and a neighbor brought under contribu-
ton before he could scrape together
twenty shillings in silver. The odd
shilling he kept for himself, protesting
he could i'll afford to have so great 4.
sum of money lying ''locked up" For
all that, he was very courteous and we'll
spoken, made us both sit down with his
family to dinner and brewed punch in q
fine china bowl, over which my rascal
guide grew so merry that he refused to-
start.
] was for getting angry, and appealed
to the rich man (Hector Maclean was
his name) who had been q witness 20
our bargain and to my payment of the
five shillings. But Maclean had taken
his share of the punch, and vowed that
no gentleman should leave his table
after the bowl was brewed; so there
was nothing for it but to sit and hear
Jacobite toasts and Gaelic songs till all
were tipsy and staggered off to the bed
or the barn for their nights rest.
Next day Ghe fourth of my travels)
we were up before five upon the clock,
but my rascal guide got to the bottle
at once, and it was three hours before |
had him clear of the house, and then,
as you shall hear, only for worse dis
appointment.
AS long as we went down heathery
valley that lay before Mr. Macleans
house, all went well; only my guide
looked constantly over his shoulder, and
when / asked him the cause only
grinned at me. No sooner, however,
had we crossed the back of a hill, and
got out of sight of the back windows,
than he told me Torosay lay right in
front, and that hilltop (Which he
pointed out) was my best landmark.
81 care very little for that" said 1,
''since you are going with me-"
The impudent cheat answered me in
the Gaelic that he had no English.
"My fine fellow" said, 81 know very
well your English comes and goes. Tell
me what will bring it back? Is it more
money you wishy'
'Five shillings mair," said he, "and
herself will bring We there"
REFLECTED awhile and then offered him
two, which he accepted greedily and in
sisted on having in his hands at once
"for luck, :" as he said, but think it was
rather for my misfortune.
The two shillings carried him not
quite as many miles, at the end of which
distance he sat down upon the wayside
and took off his brogues from his feet,
like man about to rest.
Twas now redhot. "Har said l, "have
you no more English?"
He said impudently, "No."
AT that | boiled over and lifted my
hand to strike him, and he, drawing O
knife from his rags, squatted back and
grinned at me like wildcat. At that,
forgetting everything but my anger, l
ran in upon him, put aside his knife
with my left and struck him in the
mouth with my right. was q strong
lad and'very angry, and he but little
man, and he went down before me
heavily. BY good luck his knife flew
out of his hand as he fell.
picked up both that and his brogues,
wished him good morning and set off
upon my wa, leaving him barefoot and
disarmed. l chuckled to myself as /
went, being sure was done with that
rogue for a variety of reasons. First,