"Mr Macrory," said Macgillivray, as he stretched out his hand to him, "you see I have kept tryst, and have brought a friend with me also to partake of the good cheer I see you are preparing for us.”

"Lochandhu," said the other, "I am glad to see you. I was beginning to think lang for you. -Sir," said he to Amherst, as he proffered him a horny hand he saw it was expected he should accept, "I am glad to see you. Any friend of Lochandhu's will be heartily welcome to such fare as I can gie. Pray, walk in, gentlemen.”

Then calling to some of his people, he desired them in Gaelic to place fresh bundles of ferns for the gentlemen, which they very speedily did, tying them up so firmly, as to convert them into very pleasant seats. This was the first time. Amherst had ever heard Mr Macgillivray called by the name of his estate, by which, however, he shall in future be designated, such being the universal Highland practice, where the numbers of a clan render this mode of distinction absolutely necessary.

The floor of the grotto was covered a foot or two deep with fresh gathered ferns, and a number

of small kegs, with two or three awkward looking saddles, were strewed about, whilst five or six long barrelled fowling-pieces, and one or two broad-swords, were resting against the wall. As

this was all the furniture it contained, Amherst suspected that it was only a temporary place of residence. It was extremely dry and comfortable, however; the heat of the fire without, penetrated into its innermost recesses, whilst the fir-torches, stuck horizontally into the crevices of the rock, made the interior as light as day. Amherst's curiosity was much excited to know what were the habits and profession of their host, but as he saw he could not question Lochandhu, without the risk of giving offence to Macrory, he suppressed his wishes for the present.

They were no sooner seated, than he who did. the honours of this strange place, speaking to one of the men in Gaelic, the fellow went to one of the kegs, and drawing a spigot, caught the liquor in a small flat silver cup, having two thin slips attached to the edge to hold it by. It was capable of containing about as much as three ordinary glasses. This he presented full to Macrory, who drank it off to the health of his guests.

It was then again filled and presented to Lochandhu, who emptied it in the same way When it came to Amherst's turn, he drank to them, and tasting the liquor, and finding it brandy, he was about to return it to the cup bearer. But a significant look from Lochandhu informed him that etiquette required he should finish the pledge, and, accordingly, making up his mind to submit to the customs of those with whom he now found himself, he drained it to the bottoms

66 And when left ye Sir Alisander's, gentlemen, if I may ask?" said Macrory, after this prelude to conversation had been gone through; "I thought ye would ha'e been here lang afore this."

Why, truly," said Lochandhu, "the knight is hospitable, and we got not so early off as I generally travel, nor did we much hurry ourselves by the way. Besides, I thought it was well that you should be fairly lodged before we joined you."

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"It was as well," replied the other, looking askance at Lochandhu. "The beasts, as you may believe, were made to put down their cloots, and were not very long on the road; but some o' them got awa' frae us as we came down into the glen,

and it was a while before we catched them again; and then we were sic a weary time o' getting them through the fuird, that we were not that lang here afore yeað ba

“You seem to have made a very good market of it," said Lochandhu. I

“Aye, aye no that ill-no that ill-a' things considered; I seldom fail after my plans are aince weel laid. But saw ye ony body on the scent, as ye came alang ?-Saw ye nae body looking after us ?"

Here Lochandhu, suddenly glancing a particular look at him, and starting up and interrupting him, expressed his surprise that there was no appearance of supper, and began calling loudly in Gaelic to the men at the fire, as if to expedite their operations.

“Aye, aye,” said he, after hearing their reply, "it is of no use to hurry them. Well, since it will be yet some time before the feast is prepared, I must ask you, Mr Macrory, to take a step to the door with me, as I have some little business to talk to you about. Mr Oakenwold," continued he, bowing to Amherst, “will, I am sure, have the goodness to pardon me for leaving him to his own meditations, which, to a hungry man, cannot be

very agreeable; but my business is not long. I wish, Sir," added he, laughing, “I had a library to offer to you here; but you see," pointing his hand round the wall, we have neither books nor paintings to amuse you.”

Amherst begged him to make no apology,they walked out together, and he observed them pacing along between the large stems, under the shade of the trees, at some distance beyond the fire, where its red glare penetrated sufficiently to show him that they were in very earnest conversation.

Amherst, when thus left to his own thoughts, naturally enough turned them upon the whimsical situation he now found himself in, sitting thus in a cavern of the rock, so much resembling a den of thieves, with a parcel of wild Highlanders lying round a huge fire at the entrance of it, their hands bloody from the butchering to which they had been lately applied, engaged in the operation of broiling large mishapen fragments of flesh upon the green branches, placed over red hot embers, and their countenances appearing doubly ferocious from the strong effect of light thrown on them. A little further reflection led him to be not alto