Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-02-11

Inls was perhaps rlcn man TOT NULL
he would have scarce been thought SC
in the south, for it took all he had; the
whole house was turned upside down
and neighbor brought under contribu-
tion 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 i
sum of money lying "locked up" For
all that, he was very courteous and web
spoken, made us both sit down with his
family to dinner and brewed punch in a
fine china bowl, over which my rascal
guide grew 80 merry that he refused e
start.
] was for getting angry, and appealed
TO the rich man Hector Maclean was
his name) who had been 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 (the 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 a worse dis
appointment.
AS long as we went down heathery
valley that lay before Mr.. Maclean's
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 a hilltop (Which he
pointed outl was my best landmark.
II care very little for that" said l,
"since you are going with me-"
The impudent cheat answered me in
the Gaelic that he had no English.
my fine fellow" said, II know very
well your English comes and goes. Tell
me what will bring it back? Is it more
money you wish?"
Five shillings mair," said he, land
hersel' will bring ye 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. "IIaT said ], "have
you no more English?"
He said impudently, NO"
At that | boiled over and lifted my
hand to strike him, and he, drawing a
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 a 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 way, leaving him barefoot and
disarmed. l chuckled to myself as |
went, being sure was done with that
rogue for a variety of reasons. First,
he knew he could have no more of my
money; next, the brogues were worth in
that country only a few pence, and
lastly the knife, which was really n
dagger, it was against the law for him
to carry.
In about half an hour | overlook
great, ragged man, moving pretty fast,
but feeling before him with a staff. He
was quite blind, and he told me he was
a catechist, which should have put me
at my ease. But his face went against
me; it seemed dark and dangerous and
secret, and presently, as we began to go
on alongside, saw the steel butt Of
pistol sticking from under the flap of
his coat pocket. To carry such thing
meant fine of fifteen pounds sterling
upon a first offense and transportation
to the colonies upon a second. Nor
could quite see why religious teacher
should go armed, or what blind man
could be doing with pistol.
told him about my griae, for | was
proud of what | had done vR my vanity
for once got the heels OF nay prudence.
At the mention of the five shillings he
cried out so loud that made up my
mind | should say nothing of the other
two, and was glad he could not see my
bushes.
"Was it too muchY' / asked, little
faltering.
"Too muchl" cries he. "Why, will
guide you to Torosay myself for dram
of brandy, and give you the great