The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Through Darkest Invc7'ness-shire. 669
is said, quickens the faculties. I resolved to temporise. In
my suavest manner I praised it. Called it " '*
Good dog !
" Fine fellow !
" and sought to impress on its mind that
nothing was further from my intention than to apply my
ruse a second time. I sought to convey to it my admira-
tion at the capable manner with which it guarded the
rotten old box I had no intention of touching. The fine
set of teeth was even more in evidence than before, and
the language if anything more emphatic. I tried the effect
of the human eye, wishing very quietly it was the human
toe, but without any beneficial result. I therefore tried the
human heel, and made an ignominious detour of nearly
half a mile, and so escaped this danger. I believe as much
as ever in my ruse, but am certainly less decided as to
its effect. This much, however, is true, if, as in my case, it
has not the expected effect on the one party, it certainly has
a precisely similar effect on the other.
Macdougall's road was very difficult to find. I thought
several times I had struck it, but after a few yards it dis-
appeared. Looking up and down the side of the hill, I
thought I could discern something in the distance which
looked like the road, but on my getting to those spots I
found I was mistaken.
These delusive wanderings added considerably to the
length of my journe}-, and the episode of the dog, the
heartless nature of the weather, the despicable state of my
boots, all had an evil effect on my better nature.
With regard to the boots, I was now satisfied that even
in a van full of navvies I would have no cause to think
them out of place—they had a wretched spongy look, and
an equally wretched and spongy feel, which was most
complete.
The rain came down persistentl)-. I had heard that in
this district when it rains—// rains—devoting its whole
mind to it. My umbrella grew sodden and heavy, and the
wind blew it about in a ridiculous fashion. I was just
weighing in my mind what advantage there was in my