a
chance as the present family have been so long in possession. They
almost blessed me for saying so. There, however, can be very little
doubt that the title and estate, more than a million acres, belong to the
claimant by strict law. Old Fraser's brother was called Black John of
the Tasser. The man whom he killed was a piper who sang an insulting
song to him at a wedding. I have heard the words and have translated
them; he was dressed very finely, and the piper sang:

_You're dressed in Highland robes_, _O John_,
_But ropes of straw would become ye better_;
_You've silver buckles your shoes upon_
_But leather thongs for them were fitter_.

Whereupon John drew his dagger and ran it into the piper's belly; the
descendants of the piper are still living at Beauly. I walked that day
thirty-four miles between noon and ten o'clock at night. My letter of
credit is here. This is a dear place, but not so bad as Edinburgh. _If
you have written_, don't write any more till you hear from me again.

God bless you and Hen.
GEORGE BORROW.

LETTER VII.

INVERNESS,
_September_ 30_th_, [1858].

DEAR CARRETA,

I write another line to tell you that I have got your second letter--it
came just in time, as I leave to-morrow. In your next, address to George
Borrow, Post Office, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland. You had,
however, better write without delay, as I don't know how long I may be
there; and be sure only to write once. I am glad we have got such a
desirable tenant for our Maltings, and should be happy to hear that the
cottage was also let so well. However, let us be grateful for what has
been accomplished.

I hope you wrote to Cooke as I desired you, and likewise said something
about how I had waited for Murray. Between ourselves that account of
theirs was a shameful one, whatever they may say.

I met to-day a very fat gentleman from Caithness, at the very north of
Scotland; he said he was descended from the Norse. I talked to him about
them, and he was so pleased with my conversation that he gave me his
card, and begged that I would visit him if I went there. As I could do
no less, I showed him my card--I had but one--and he no sooner saw the
name than he was i