others, and helped himself to some of its contents; nor did he find it altogether so unpalatable as he had anticipated. This entrée was followed by another of similar shape and size, heaped up with hissing fragments of broiled mutton, sending forth a very savoury steam, and a knife and fork, drawn from a dirkcase, were handed to Amherst, together with some hot oaten cakes, baked on a flat stone, and toasted before the fire. The viands were by no means uninviting, and although Amherst's sickness of heart had robbed him of his appetite, the other two did not fail to do ample justice to them, ever and anon washing the morsels of food down with a tasse of brandy. When they had finished their meal, the cogues were carried out to the fire, where O'Gollochar and the Highlanders speedily cleared them out, assisted by the dogs, who stood by, and alertly caught up the offals, both cooked and raw, which were thrown to them. Nor was brandy awanting at this second table, being drank from small wooden queaghs, made with narrow staves of different-coloured woods nicely hooped together. The liquor went frequently round; but, although a great deal was drank by each individual, there did not appear the slightest approach to intoxicabate rats bag tion. The conversation within the grotto during the meal, and during the short time after it, employed in sipping brandy, chiefly turned on the subject of deer-stalking, and the chace of different animals, objects of sport to the Highlanders. Lochandhu and Macrory each narrated various anecdotes relating to such toils, and told of many a feat they had personally performed. At length all rattling of horn-spoons, and crunching of jaws, having ceased in the neighbourhood of the fire, Macrory called to his people, who brought in large additional bundles of dry fern, and made up three very luxurious beds, and Amherst, glad to be permitted to retire into the society of his own thoughts, however gloomy, immediately wrapped himself up in his cloak, and, took possession of one of them, Lochandhu and Macrory soon afterwards following his example. The lights in the grotto were then extinguish ed; a watch was set to keep up the fire; O'Gol lochar threw himself on near abco. 119151 master; and such of the Highlanders who were not on duty as sentinels, disposed of themselves, each according to his own fancy, forming a sort of group just within the entrance. Amherst lay for some time awake. All was still, save only the muffled sound of the rushing river, and the deep breathing of the sleepers around him; or the drowsy tapping of the man stationed at the fire, as he poked together and arranged the half burned fragments of wood, with the end of a stake; or the smothered growl, or half uttered whine of the dogs, as they urged the fancied chace in dreams. At last he also yielded to the gentle influence, and, fatigued by his mental sufferings, his want of rest the night before, and the exercise he had undergone during the day, he dropt by degrees into profound oblivion. CHAPTER V. We see the great effects of battles by sea; the battle of Actium decided the empire of the world. What art thou, whose heavy looks foretell BACON. SHAKESPEARE. On the day that Amherst left Sanderson Mains, Sir Alisander's party was augmented by the august presence, and illuminated by the rubicund nasal promontory of Dr Partenclaw, who came puffing up to the door some hours before dinner, mounted on a tall, lean, wind-galled horse, that looked like a piece of animated timber. A spectator might have thought that the spindle shanks of the rider were the prime movers of the automaton animal; and the Doctor himself experienced all the fatigue of limb, attaching to the modern hero of the velocipede, without enjoying a tenth part of the celerity of mo tion, given by that whimsical machine. Besides being an excellent country surgeon, as times went, Partenclaw was a charitable good sort of a man upon the whole, and being always jocular and familiar with the servants, his arrival was usually greeted by them with a smile of welcome, except indeed, when he came to dose some of them with his drugs. But even in this particular, they were much more afraid of the Baronet than of his medical adviser, whose ordinary prescriptions of sack-whey, chicken-broth, beef-tea, and brandy-posset, were much more relished, than were the frequent and powerful cathartics, emetics, sudorifics, venesections, and blisters, forming the flowers of Sir Alisander's practice. When the Doctor reached the door, the dignity of Master Duncan Brouster did not conceive itself dishonoured, by acting as groom to so eminent and agreeable a physician. He hastened to hold his bridle and stirrup, and assisted him in the somewhat difficult and tender operation, of lowering down his swag paunch from its exalted height, and guarding against the shock of too sudden a descent, with a degree of care, such as |