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h which he extricated himself from imminent danger； were no less remembered and admired than the exploits in which he had been successful。 In weal or woe； through every species of fatigue； difficulty； and danger； Elspat was his faithful companion。 She enjoyed with him the fits of occasional prosperity； and when adversity pressed them hard； her strength of mind； readiness of wit； and courageous endurance of danger and toil； are said often to have stimulated the exertions of her husband。
Their morality was of the old Highland castfaithful friends and fierce enemies。 The Lowland herds and harvests they accounted their own； whenever they had the means of driving off the one or of seizing upon the other； nor did the least scruple on the right of property interfere on such occasions。 Hamish Mhor argued like the old Cretan warrior：
〃My sword； my spear； my shaggy shield； They make me lord of all below； For he who dreads the lance to wield； Before my shaggy shield must bow。 His lands； his vineyards； must resign； And all that cowards have is mine。〃
But those days of perilous； though frequently successful depredation； began to be abridged after the failure of the expedition of Prince Charles Edward。 MacTavish Mhor had not sat still on that occasion； and he was outlawed； both as a traitor to the state and as a robber and cateran。 Garrisons were now settled in many places where a red…coat had never before been seen； and the Saxon war…drum resounded among the most hidden recesses of the Highland mountains。 The fate of MacTavish became every day more inevitable； and it was the more difficult for him to make his exertions for defence or escape； that Elspat； amid his evil days； had increased his family with an infant child； which was a considerable encumbrance upon the necessary rapidity of their motions。
At length the fatal day arrived。 In a strong pass on the skirts of Ben Crunchan； the celebrated MacTavish Mhor was surprised by a detachment of the Sidier Roy。 ＇The Red Soldier。＇ His wife assisted him heroically； charging his piece from time to time； and as they were in possession of a post that was nearly unassailable； he might have perhaps escaped if his ammunition had lasted。 But at length his balls were expended； although it was not until he had fired off most of the silver buttons from his waistcoat； and the soldiers； no longer deterred by fear of the unerring marksman； who had slain three and wounded more of their number； approached his stronghold； and； unable to take him alive； slew him after a most desperate resistance。
All this Elspat witnessed and survived； for she had； in the child which relied on her for support； a motive for strength and exertion。 In what manner she maintained herself it is not easy to say。 Her only ostensible means of support were a flock of three or four goats； which she fed wherever she pleased on the mountain pastures； no one challenging the intrusion。 In the general distress of the country； her ancient acquaintances had little to bestow； but what they could part with from their own necessities； they willingly devoted to the relief of others； From Lowlanders she sometimes demanded tribute； rather than requested alms。 She had not forgotten she was the widow of MacTavish Mhor； or that the child who trotted by her knee might； such were her imaginations； emulate one day the fame of his father； and command the same influence which he had once exerted without control。 She associated so little with others； went so seldom and so unwillingly from the wildest recesses of the mountains； where she usually dwelt with her goats； that she was quite unconscious of the great change which had taken place in the country around her the substitution of civil order for military violence； and the strength gained by the law and its adherents over those who were called in Gaelic song； 〃the stormy sons of the sword。〃 Her own diminished consequence and straitened circumstances she indeed felt； but for this the death of MacTavish Mhor was； in her apprehension； a sufficing reason； and she doubted not that she should rise to her former state of importance when Hamish Bean （or fair…haired James） should be able to wield the arms of his father。 If； then； Elspat was repelled； rudely when she demanded anything necessary for her wants； or the accommodation of her little flock； by a churlish farmer； her threats of vengeance； obscurely expressed； yet terrible in their tenor； used frequently to extort； through fear of her maledictions； the relief which was denied to her necessities； and the trembling goodwife； who gave meal or money to the widow of MacTavish Mhor； wished in her heart that the stern old carlin had been burnt on the day her husband had his due。
Years thus ran on； and Hamish Bean grew upnot； indeed； to be of his father's size or strength； but to become an active； high… spirited； fair…haired youth； with a ruddy cheek； an eye like an eagle's； and all the agility； if not all the strength； of his formidable father； upon whose history and achievements his mother dwelt； in order to form her son's mind to a similar course of adventures。 But the young see the present state of this changeful world more keenly than the old。 Much attached to his mother； and disposed to do all in his power for her support； Hamish yet perceived； when he mixed with the world； that the trade of the cateran was now alike dangerous and discreditable； and that if he were to emulate his father's progress； it must be in some other line of warfare more consonant to the opinions of the present day。
As the faculties of mind and body began to expand； he became more sensible of the precarious nature of his situation； of the erroneous views of his mother； and her ignorance respecting the changes of the society with which she mingled so little。 In visiting friends and neighbours； he became aware of the extremely reduced scale to which his parent was limited； and learned that she possessed little or nothing more than the absolute necessaries of life； and that these were sometimes on the point of failing。 At times his success in fishing and the chase was able to add something to her subsistence； but he saw no regular means of contributing to her support； unless by stooping to servile labour； which； if he himself could have endured it； would； he knew； have been like a death's…wound to the pride of his mother。
Elspat； meanwhile； saw with surprise that Hamish Bean； although now tall and fit for the field； showed no disposition to enter on his father's scene of action。 There was something of the mother at her heart； which prevented her from urging him in plain terms to take the field as a cateran； for the fear occurred of the perils into which the trade must conduct him； and when she would have spoken to him on the subject； it seemed to her heated imagination as if the ghost of her husband arose between them in his bloody tartans； and laying his finger on his lips； appeared to prohibit the topic。 Yet she wondered at what seemed his want of spirit； sighed as she saw him from day to day lounging about in the long…skirted Lowland coat which the legislature had imposed upon the Gael instead of their own romantic garb； and t