each of us holding two corners of it, we began our slow and toilsome descent. By frequent rests, we succeeded at length in reaching the river, but now a fresh difficulty arose as to how we were to convey the patient across it. From this perplexity, which threatened to render all our previous toils ineffectual, the hardihood and address of the smuggler extricated us. He took the helpless and shattered man on his shoulders, and committed to me the charge of keeping the narrow plank steady and in its position, and then fearlessly ventured on the hazardous passage. All my endeavours were insufficient to prevent the ticklish bridge from tottering, and more than once I trembled when I saw the imminent danger of the brave Highlander and his burden. His remarkable coolness of head, however, enabled him to preserve his equilibrium to a miracle; and with inexpressible delight I soon saw him safely deposit his charge on the opposite bank.

Taking hold of the whining collie, who did not seem so keen to enter the stream as on the former occasion, I also made my way over without delay. In a few minutes more we were in the hut, and happy to find that the shepherd had sustained less inconvenience by the way than might have been expected from the ruggedness of the ground and the mode of conveyance. Having removed his drenched and comfortless garments, we proceeded to put in operation all the medical skill we possessed on the wounds and bruises of his damaged frame. The staves of a demolished cask supplied us with pretty serviceable splints; Flory's apron, which was willingly given us, was cut down to form a roller; and with these rude materials we contrived to re-adjust and secure the fractured limb in a manner which even the Faculty would have approved of. By means of Flory's alacrity too, we were enabled to bathe his cold extremities with tepid water, to staunch the wounds, which the increased circulation thus excited had opened afresh, with cobwebs from the retired parts of the hut, instead of sharpis; to give him such a comfortable mess of gruel as suited his debilitated and chilled state, and to commit him (after having anointed the bruised but unbroken parts of his tabernacle with the smuggler's elixir) to a soft couch of heather prepared for him in a suitable place. All parties having thus endeavoured to discharge their duty in the circumstances of each, we commended our patient to the good offices of Morpheus, who, sooner than we expected, spread his mantle over him and shed his opiate dew on his eye-lids, which cheered us with good hopes of the poor shepherd's recovery. Allan's own sufferings had not banished from his mind the thought of his absent and anxious Ericht. He therefore requested, before he resigned himself to sleep, that we would relieve her from her distress of mind as soon as day appeared-and it was now not far distant-by acquainting her with the particulars of his situation.

While Flory attended to the still, the smuggler and I sat in silence beside the fire drying our steaming attire. But though we spoke not, our minds were not inactive. What were his cogitations I know not, but my mind was filled with the incidents and adventures of that eventful night. I recalled the feelings and reflections which had, a few hours previously, occupied my thoughts as I paced up and down in the rain and the darkness at the torrent's edge, and was forcibly struck with the remarkable illustration that had since occurred of the contrast which I had then attempted to draw between my own state and whatever I could con

ceive more distressing in that of others. Little did I imagine that a combination of disastrous circumstances, so much worse than anything that I had experienced, lay so near me, and it was not without self-reproach that I recalled the despondent notions which had then threatened to unnerve me.

The shepherd's poor wife and family too rose before my "mind's eye," in all the sadness of my solitude and distracting anxiety during the tardy hours of that dismal night. How often, thought I, has the affectionate Ericht left her lonely cottage to gaze into the pitchy darkness in search of her absent husband. How many foreboding sighs have issued from her lone breast, how many bitter tears have bedewed her babe as she sung him to sleep, and trembled lest the morrow should find him fatherless and herself a widow. My own eyes began to fill as I dwelt on this sad picture of the disconsolate Ericht, and never doubted whether she or her husband was then most deserving of pity. In the meantime the smuggler had stretched himself on a heap of peats, and was fast asleep. My own eye-lids too began to be heavy, and just as the grey dawn appeared in the distance, I also laid my nerveless limbs to rest on the dry heather which Flory had kindly spread for me. I soon experienced a short though sweet oblivion of all the ills that had annoyed me, and when I awoke the morning was well advanced, and Flory preparing to set out with her budget of heavy tidings for poor Ericht's dwelling.

Having made due enquiries after the state of the invalid, and finding that he had slept well and was free from fever, I went out of the bothie to look about me, The morning was calm and free from rain, and the temperature, though rather moist, was mild. The lingering mist was gradually ascending to the mountain tops, whose rugged declivities glittered freshly after their late ablution in the half-obstructed sunbeams, and were richly adorned with numerous white streams and rills which had not yet shrunk within the limits of their ordinary channels. Beneath the fleecy mist I could perceive the dark gorge of Corrie Donn, the scene of our late adventure, though its interior was still too much obscured to be discernible. The river had sunk within one-half of its late dimensions, but like an infuriated animal that has nearly exhausted its strength by its own impetuosity, though it still retains its savage aspect and disposition, so did the hoarse stream continue to fret and foam, and its billowy waters might still seem formidable to the passenger. As I looked at it again, after gazing on the surrounding scenery, I beheld with surprise, on the opposite bank, a young woman with a child in her arms, who seemed just about to enter the ford, which was rapid, strong, and dangerous. I trembled for her safety, and endeavoured to deter her from the perilous attempt. But my voice having been drowned amidst the noise of the waters, and my signs having been unnoticed or disregarded, she resolutely rushed. into the foaming and impetuous stream. I hurried to her assistance; but before I could reach her she had gained the middle of the channel, and was staggering with the force of the current and the giddiness which its rapid motion had produced. I had concluded from the first that this was none other than the anxious and discorsolate Ericht; the troubled air that marked her fair, though matronly countenance, confirmed my opinion, and I hastened to prepare her for the pitcous spectacle which she would behold when ushered into her husband's presence.

Z

Her interview with him was very affectionate and pathetic. She seemed, however, to be more overcome with joy and gratitude that her Allan's case was not worse, than with grief that it was so bad; and her thanks, to the smuggler and myself, were profuse, sincere, and affecting. Nor did she forget to lavish her caresses on the faithful and intelligent collie, when informed of the important part he took in the services rendered to his master; since, without his kindly sagacity and activity, no human effort could have been made in time to save Allan's life. The expression of conscious joy pourtrayed on Oscar's honest canine features, as he watched the glistening eye of his mistress and felt the gentle touch of her caressing hand, gave sufficient evidence of the satisfaction which he felt in the part he had acted, and was enough to melt, with tenderness towards him, the hearts of all present. In a consultation which now took place it was resolved that the blacksmith of the clachan, celebrated, as most blacksmiths in the Highlands of Scotland are, for his skill in the treatment of broken bones, whether of biped or of quadruped, should be sent for to examine the setting of our patient's limb, though some of us were quietly of opinion that Vulcan himself could not have done it better, even had he been chief operator on the occasion.

The smuggler having volunteered to go on this message, made preparations to set out, as soon as he had exhorted his guests, both by precept and example, to make a hearty breakfast on such fare as he had to give them. As I did not intend to await his return, I walked out of the hut with him, and took leave of him after having received his directions for my future course, and given him in return a half-jocular admonition to be under less apprehension in time to come from the dreaded Rory of the Glen, which he received with a good humoured smile of self-conviction. But when I tendered him a piece of money in return for his hospitality, I shall not soon forget the oath which he uttered, nor the indignant frown which his rude features assumed. I felt as if I had done him an injury, and hastened to apologise, adding my earnest desire to be of service to him, and pledging myself, according to his request, to revisit him if ever I returned to Glenaverain. A similar promise was exacted from me by Allan and his grateful Ericht, from whose cordial grasp I found some difficulty in disengaging myself. Having also taken leave of Flory and Oscar, I again sallied forth as the advancing sun was putting to flight the last lingering vapours, and in a pleasing though somewhat melancholy frame of mind, resumed my search for wild flowers among the mountains.

THE "INVERNESSIAN" for June contains:-The Inverness Courier on Mr Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, M.P., and his Resolution on the Land Laws; Notes on various Subjects, local and general; May-day Rejoicings on the Restoration of Charles II., Illustrated; The Ladies of St Martha; A French General's Latin; Career and Death of Lord Beaconsfield, with fine full-page portrait; The Frauds of Moscow; Queen Elizabeth and the Bishop of Ely; Jean-a poem-Illustrated; A Day in the Forest-concluded; Romantic Escapes of a Fugitive Prince; Wit and Humour, &c., &c. Specimen number sent on receipt of 11d; for a whole year, by post, for 1s 6d. A first-class family periodical.

EVICTED.

A HIGHLAND TALE OF TO-DAY.

DEAR SIR,-Until reading your "Highland Clearances " I had but a faint idea of the horrible treatment of the Highlanders. The cruelties practised on the clans by their "ain kith and kin" exceed those of Butcher Cumberland. What an unworthy set of savages those chiefs must have been! no wonder they are poor and landless now. You have the same spirit abroad to-day; your Frasers, Baillies, and Piries are the modern embodiments of the sma' despot, but thanks to the Press their foul deeds are publicised, and the world knows all about British tyrants. Your pamphlet is a terrible tale of injustice and cruelty, and clearly proves the iniquitous and one-sided nature of our Land Laws. The day is not far distant when they shall be swept away. It has called forth the following. Yours, &c.,

SUNDERLAND.

Why should a landlord's ruthless scorn
Be showered upon my head?

Why should I from my home be torn,
And forced to beg for bread?

Here I have tilled this rugged soil,
With unremitting care;
Here I have spent a life of toil
To earn a crofter's fare.

I took the place long years ago,
'Twas then a desert waste;
But I was young, the rent was low,
And Hope was in my breast.

I struggled on; each dyke and wall
Was gathered from the land;
My cot, this byre, this barn, have all
Been reared by my own hand.
Despairing oft, my lot I curst,
My work seemed void of good,
The cheerless place was loth at first
To yield an ounce of food.

Somehow I still unquailing clung,
Determined to succeed,

I prayed to God with fervent tongue
To bless each spring-sown seed.

My hardy cattle seemed to thrive
Upon yon barren brae,

Their increase kept my hopes alive,
And were my only stay.

WM ALLAN.

Then, by-and-bye, I took a wife,
Who well performed her part,
She bravely bore the weary strife,
To spur my drooping heart.

Three boys were born, and strange to tell
Each one some blessing brought:
The turnips, hay, and corn grew well,
We had much less of drought.

Alas! deep sorrows o'er me rolled,
My loving helpmate died,

She sleeps in yonder churchyard old,—
Would I were by her side!

Years passed, my boys grew up to know The poverty around,

They felt its misery, and so

Far distant homes they found.

I could not leave my sacred cot,
I loved it more with years;
My heart is planted in the spot,
Its soil hath drank my tears.
And then my landlord was a man
Of sympathetic heart,

He cheered me in what I began
With open-handed art.

My efforts seemed to win his love,

I tried to feel content,

And though he saw his fields improve,
He never raised my rent.

He died, and times were sadly changed,
His son was landlord then;

From all old things he was estranged,
And also from old men.

He lived so fast, and spent so much
To be considered grand,
That Debt's unfeeling, deadly clutch,
O'ershadowed all his land.

It had to pay for his misdeeds,

And wild expenditure,

The rents were raised to meet the needs

Which reckless ways ensure.

We, crofters, were the sheep he fleeced,
He used us as he pleased,

And as his wasteful wants increased,
We were the slaves he squeezed.

I could not give what was not got
From out the fickle soil,