“ As, however, Mr Ireby had gone the day before upon a journey of some miles’ distance to the northward, the bailiff chose to consider the check upon his full powers as for the time removed, and concluded that he should best consult his master’s interest, and perhaps his own, in making an agreement with Harry Wakefield. Meanwhile, ignorant of what his comrade was doing, Robin Oig, on his side, chanced to be overtaken by a well-looked smart little man upon a pony, most knowingly hogged and cropped, as was then the fashion, the rider wearing tight leather breeches, and long-necked bright spurs. ”

“ A loud shout of laughter followed the proposal, which indeed had rather escaped from poor Robin's swelling heart, than been the dictates of his sober judgment. “Gentleman, quotha!” was echoed on all sides, with a shout of unextinguishable laughter: “a very pretty gentleman, God wot——Canst get two swords for the gentleman to fight with, Ralph Heskett?” ”

“ It consists, as is well known, in the person who makes the deasil, walking three times round the person who is the object of the ceremony, taking care to move according to the course of the sun. At once, however, she stopped short, and exclaimed, in a voice of alarm and horror, “Grandson of my father, there is blood on your hand!” “ Hush, for God’s sake, aunt," said Robin Oig; “you will bring more trouble on yourself with this Talshataragh (second sight) than you will be able to get out of for many a day.” ”

“ The old woman only repeated, with a ghastly look, “There is blood on your hand, and it is English blood. The blood of the Gael is richer and redder. Let us see——let us——” Ere Robin Oig could prevent her, which, indeed, could only have been by positive violence, so hasty and peremptory were her proceedings, shee had drawn from his side the dirk which lodged in the folds of Ids plaid, and held it up, exclaiming, although the weapon gleamed clear and bright in the sun, “Blood, blood——Saxon blood again! ”

“ They arrived at the field, and the pasture seemed excellent. But what was their surprise when they saw the bailiff quietly inducting the cattle of Harry Wakefield into the grassy Goshen which had just been assigned to those of Robin Oig McCombich by the proprietor himself. Squire Ireby set spurs to his horse, dashed up to his servant, and learning what had passed between the parties, briefly informed the English drover that his bailiff had let the ground without his authority, and that he might seek grass for his cattle wherever he would, since he was to get none there. ”

“ Robin Oig, sorry but not surprised at his comrade’s displeasure, hastened to entreat his friend to wait but an hour till he had gone to the Squire’s house to receive payment for the cattle he had sold, and he would come back and help him to drive the cattle into some convenient place of rest, and explain to him the whole mistake they had both of them fallen into. But the Englishman continued indignant: “Thou hast been selling, hast thou? Ay, ay——thou is a cunning lad for kenning the hours of bargaining. ”

“ Who drives the plough and cart—”
when he was interrupted by a well-known voice, saying in a high and stern voice, marked by the sharp Highland accent, “Harry Waakfelt——if you be a man, stand up!” What is the matter?——what is it ?” the guests demanded of each other. “It is only a d———d Scotsman,” said Fleecebumpkin, who was by this time very drunk, “whom Harry Wakefield helped to his broth to-day, who is now come to have his cauld kail hett again.” “Harry Waakfelt,” repeated the same ominous summons, “stand up, if you be a man!” ”

“ The late Earl of Exeter had been divorced from his first wife, a woman of fashion, and of somewhat more gaiety of manners than “lords who love their ladies” like. He determined to seek out a second wife in an humbler sphere of life, and that it should be one who, having no knowledge of his rank, should love him for himself alone. ”

“ Robin Oig M'Combich, go not this day to England!” “Prutt, trutt,” answered Robin Oig, “that will never do neither——it would be next thing to running the country. For shame, Muhme——give me the dirk. You cannot tell by the colour the difference betwixt the blood of a black bullock and a white one, and you speak of knowing Saxon from Gaelic blood. All men have their blood from Adam, Muhme. ”

“ Go to the devil with thyself, for I will ne’er see thy fause loon’s visage again——thou should be ashamed to look me in the face.” “ I am ashamed to look no man in the face,” said Robin Oig, something moved; “and, moreover, I will look you in the face this blessed day, if you will bide at the Clachan down yonder.” “Mayhap you had as well keep away,” said his comrade; and turning his back on his former friend, he collected his unwilling associates, assisted by the bailiff, who took some real and some affected interest in seeing Wakefield accommodated. ”

“ It may not be indifferent to the reader to know, that the Highland cattle are peculiarly liable to be taken, or infected, by spells and witchcraft, which judicious people guard against by knitting knots of peculiar complexity on the the tuft of hair which terminates the animal’s tail. ”

“ And thus the conversation proceeded until they had agreed on the prix juste for the bullocks, the Squire throwing in the temporary accommodation of the inclosure for the cattle into the boot, and Robin making, as he thought a very good bargain, providing the grass was but tolerable. The Squire walked his pony alongside of the drove, partly to show him the way, and see him put into possession of the field, and partly to learn the latest news of the northern markets. ”

“ In these solitary regions, the cattle under the charge of our drovers subsisted themselves cheaply, by picking their food as they went along the droveroad, or sometimes by the tempting opportunity of a start and owerloup, or invasion of the neighbouring pasture, where an occasion presented itself. ”

“ Good John Barleycorn also, who always heightens and exaggerates the prevailing passions, be they angry or kindly, was not wanting in his offices on this occasion; and confusion to false friends and hard masters, was pledged in more than one tankard. ”

“ Look to yourself, Harry Waakfelt.” “Then the curse of Cromwell on your proud Scots stomach, as the man says in the play, and you may do your worst and be d—————d; for one man can say nothing more to another after a tussel, than that he is sorry for it.”
On these terms the friends parted; Robin Oig drew out, in silence, a piece of money, threw it on the table, and then left the alehouse. ”