The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

620 The Highland Monthly.
exactly like the stranger I had seen six weeks previously,
walk smartly towards me at the turn in the road where my
unknown friend had also appeared. As the man approached
nearer me, I recognised in him the same individual who
had given me such a surprise shortly before. I went down
to meet him, determined that he would not escape me this
time. He introduced himself as the doctor, and I led him
up to the house. I scrutinized him closely as he examined
my little girl, and down to his slender black cane, which he
had placed on the table, he was an exact counterpart of
my former mysterious visitor. In a few minutes he assured
me that Nelly was in no danger whatever, and having
prescribed for her he accepted my invitation to have some
refreshment. I asked him if he had been in this part of
the country before, and he replied he was never north of
the Grampians till he came here three days ago. Of course
I kept quiet about the extraordinary vision I had concern-
ing him some weeks previously, for like all men of his
class he would have laughed at me. Educated men either
laugh in scorn at what they call superstition, or explain it
by science to their own satisfaction. Let them account for
this wonderful incident as they like, but the fact remains
that I could have described that doctor's personal appear-
ance weeks before I ever saw him in the flesh."
" It was Dr Sanderson, wasn't it ?" said Aonghas Ban.
'• Yes, it was Dr Sanderson," was the reply.
Did space permit I could relate many other stories
of a similar kind that I heard that night at Aonghas
Ban's. Seoras Glas's stock of such stories was simply
inexhaustible, and once he commenced to tell them
he seemed to get quite unconscious of the lapse of
time. It was generally midnight when he produced
a large silver watch from a pocket in the lining of
his waistcoat, and then, without expressing by word or
feature any surprise at the lateness of the hour, he would
leisurely wrap the plaid more closely round his body,
whistle for Caesar, and the next moment his tall form was