d; and, besides, his ascendancy over me was as complete as that of
a huntsman over his dogs: I was even so weak as, the next time I met
with him, to look steadfastly at his foot, to see if it was not cloven
into two hoofs. It was the foot of a gentleman in every respect, so far
as appearances went, but the form of his counsels was somewhat
equivocal, and, if not double, they were amazingly crooked.

But, if I had taken my measures to abscond and fly from my native
place, in order to free myself of this tormenting, intolerant, and
bloody reformer, he had likewise taken his to expel me, or throw me
into the hands of justice. It seems that, about this time, I was
haunted by some spies connected with my late father and brother, of
whom the mistress of the former was one. My brother's death had been
witnessed by two individuals; indeed, I always had an impression that
it was witnessed by more than one, having some faint recollection of
hearing voices and challenges close beside me; and this woman had
searched about until she found these people; but, as I shrewdly
suspected, not without the assistance of the only person in my
secret--my own warm and devoted friend. I say this, because I found
that he had them concealed in the neighbourhood, and then took me again
and again where I was fully exposed to their view, without being aware.
One time in particular, on pretence of gratifying my revenge on that
base woman, he knew so well where she lay concealed that he led me to
her, and left me to the mercy of two viragos who had very nigh taken my
life. My time of residence at Dalcastle was wearing to a crisis. I
could no longer live with my tyrant, who haunted me like my shadow;
and, besides, it seems there were proofs of murder leading against me
from all quarters. Of part of these I deemed myself quite free, but the
world deemed otherwise; and how the matter would have gone God only
knows, for, the case never having undergone a judicial trial, I do not.
It perhaps, however, behoves me here to relate all that I know of it,
and it is simply this:

On the first of June, 1712 (well may I remember the day), I was sitting
locked in my secret chamber, in a state of the utmost despondency,
revolving in my mind what I ought to do to be free of my persecutors,
and wishing myself a worm, or a moth, that I might be crushed and at
rest, when behold Samuel entered, with eyes like to start out of his
head, exclaiming: "For God's sake, master,