The Brownie of Bodsbeck, and Other Tales (Vol. 2 of 2)

do, he took his plaid and staff and set out towards Whithope-head, to see wh

ming down, and the storms of the air from descending; and that even the Piper Hill, or the Hermon Law, might be removed out of its place. This last, however, was rather a doubtful point to be attained, even by prayer through the best grounded faith, for, saving the places where they already stood, there was no room

eir old walk from the Earl Hill all the way to the Braid-heads." So intent was Davie on this grand project, that he walked himself out of breath against the hill, in order to get quickly at the little gair to put his scheme in execution; but, as he sagely observed, it had been graciously fore-ordained that he should not commit this great folly and iniquity. He paused to take his breath; and in pausing he turned about, as every man does who

for the sickle; and he had been lamenting that very night that such a crop should be lost for want of reapers, in a season when there was so much need for it. But now Davie saw that one half of that crop at l

s he called it. He did so, and all of them rose with wonder and astonishment, and agreed to go across the lake and look at the Brownie's workmanship. Away they went in a body to the edge of the stubble, but durst not set foot thereon for fear of being affected by enchantment in some way or another; but they saw that the

went by at a little distance, driving her father's cows afield and at the same time directing her father's dog far up the hill to turn the ewes from the Quave Brae. She was dressed in her usual neat morning habit, with a white short-gown, g

brae, Keatie Laidlaw, an' drive your ewes an' your kye where ye like; but wae's me for ye! Ye hae a weel-faurd face o' your ain, an' a mak that's liker to an angel than a thing o' flesh an' blude; but och! wh

but spoke no word that day to her young mistress, good or bad. She regarded her with a kind of awe

d to say jocularly, "He's a clever fellow the Bro

. Ye should take care what ye say here, for ye little ken wha's hearing. Ye're i' the very same predicament, billy Dan, as the tod was in the orchard,-'Afore I war at this speed,' quo' he, 'I wad rather hae my tail cuttit off,'-he hadna the word weel said before he stepped into a trap

night before. They were gone! not a sickle was there!-Davie returned, scratching his head, biting his lip, and looking steadily d

great, gave way; but yet he always said, that when he was hasting up to the rash-bush in the little green gai

is a custom with them to mix as much tar with grease before they begin as they deem sufficient to smear all the sheep on the farm, or at least one hirsell of them. This the herds of Chapelhope did; but, on the very second morning after they began, they perceived that a good deal of their tar was wanting; and judging that it had been stolen, the

wards of an hundred ewes had been smeared during the night, by the officious and unwearied Brownie of Bodsbeck. "The plague be in his

afraid of them, but managed them in the same way as he did other sheep, John grew by degrees less suspicious of them. He confessed, however, as he was sheddi

he fat sheep out from among them, and left them in the house to their fate, taking good care to be out of sight of the place before dark. Next morning a certain quantity of tar was again gone, and the sheep were all neatly smeared and keeled, and set to the hill. This practice the shepherds continued throughout smearing-time, and whether they housed many or few at night, they were still all smeared and set to the hill again next morning. The smearing of Chapelhope wa