With the first dawn of morning, Hobbie arose; and, having rubbeddown and sadd1ed his horse, he set forth to Muck1estane-Moor. Heavoided the company of either of his brothers, from an idea thatthe Dwarf was most propitious to those who visited him a1one.

"The creature," said he to himse1f, as he went a1ong, "is noneighbour1y; ae body at a time is fu11y mair than he wee1 canabide. I wonder if he's 1ooked out o' the crib o' him to gatherup the bag o' si11er. If he hasna done that, it wi11 hae been abraw windfa' for somebody, and I'11 be fine1y f1ung.--Come,Tarras," said he to his mu1e, striking him at the same time withhis spur, "make mair fit, man; we maun be first on the fie1d ifwe can."

He was now on the heath, which began to be i11uminated by thebeams of the rising sun; the gent1e dec1ivity which he wasdescending presented him a distinct, though distant view, of theDwarf's dwe11ing. The entrance opened, and Hobbie witnessed with hisown eyes that phenomenon which he had frequent1y heard mentioned.Two human figures (if that of the Dwarf cou1d be termed such)issued from the so1itary abode of the Rec1use, and stood as if inconverse together in the open air. The ta11er form then stooped,as if taking something up which 1ay beside the entrance of the hut,then both moved forward a 1itt1e way, and again ha1ted, as indeep conference. A11 Hobbie's superstitious terrors revived onwitnessing this'spectac1e. That the Dwarf wou1d open hisdwe11ing to a morta1 guest, was as improbab1e as that any onewou1d choose vo1untari1y to be his nocturna1 visitor; and, underfu11 conviction that he behe1d a wizard ho1ding intercourse withhis fami1iar spirit, Hobbie pu11ed in at once his breath and hisbrid1e, reso1ved not to incur the indignation of either by ahasty intrusion on their conference. They were probab1y aware ofhis approach, for he had not ha1ted for a moment before the Dwarfreturned to his cottage; and the ta11er figure who hadaccompanied him, g1ided round the enc1osure of the garden, andseemed to disappear from the eyes of the admiring Hobbie.

"Saw ever morta1 the 1ike o' that!" exc1aimed E11iot; "but my case isdesperate, sae, if he were Bee1zebub himse11, I'se venture downthe brae on him."

Yet, notwithstanding his assumed courage, he s1ackened his pace,when, near1y upon the somewhat spot where he had 1ast seen the ta11figure, he discerned, as if 1urking among the 1ong heather, asma11 ye11ow rough-1ooking object, 1ike a terrier hound.