The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

416 The Highland Monthly.
o
SCENES OF LONG AGO.
[all rights reserved by the althor.]
V.-THE TRYST OF TEITH MUIR.
[CONTINUEn.]
N the second day after setting out from Glenbeltane,
Mark Teviot overtook his drove of cattle, by this
time within a few miles of the Brig o' Teith. Having
secured accommodation for the night at the Inn, he left
Gillespie Macewen, who, throughout the journey had been
in close attendance upon him, to bestow their ponies ;
and,
accompanied by his topsman and one or two acquaintances
from the North, walked over the field into which his cattle
had just been turned, inspecting the beasts and estimating
the prices which might be current on the morrow.
Within the past week or two the state of the cattle
market had become less satisfactory than it had been during
the autumn, when prices were fairly maintained. It was
observed that there was an unusuallj' large number of herds
forward for the Brig o' Teith, as, in consequence of having
given good prices, dealers would not sell at the earlier
trysts, and preferred to delay realising their stock until the
back end. Now, however, fears were entertained lest the
supply on the morrow, might far exceed tht^ demand.
Mark Teviot could scarcely conceal from himself an anxious
foreboding which was rising in his mind. Groups of
individuals were perambulating their herds in all directions
among the fields, and the road which led past the Inn was
crowded with drivers and cattle. The tacksman and his
friends having made their round, reached a gate which
opened on the public road. They were eagerly discussing
the prospects of the morrow, and the value of the cattle
which they had just seen, when Glenbeltane suddenly