rns, and can be good-humoured enough, so they don't dislike him. Then
he is what they call a fairy man, a person in league with fairies and
spirits, and able to work much harm by supernatural means on which
account they hold him in great awe; he is, moreover, a mighty strong and
tall fellow. Bagg has seen him."

"Has he?"

"Yes! and felt him; he too is a strange one. A few days ago he was told
that Grant had been seen hovering about an old castle some two miles off
in the bog; so one afternoon what does he do but, without saying a word
to me--for which, by the bye, I ought to put him under arrest, though
what I should do without Bagg I have no idea whatever--what does he do
but walk off to the castle, intending, as I suppose, to pay a visit to
Jerry. He had some difficulty in getting there on account of the
turf-holes in the bog, which he was not accustomed to; however, thither
at last he got and went in. It was a strange lonesome place, he says,
and he did not much like the look of it; however, in he went, and
searched about from the bottom to the top and down again, but could find
no one; he shouted and hallooed, but nobody answered, save the rooks and
choughs, which started up in great numbers. 'I have lost my trouble,'
said Bagg, and left the castle. It was now late in the afternoon, near
sunset, when about half way over the bog he met a man--"

"And that man was--"

"Jerry Grant! there's no doubt of it. Bagg says it was the most sudden
thing in the world. He was moving along, making the best of his way,
thinking of nothing at all save a public-house at Swanton Morley, which
he intends to take when he gets home and the regiment is
disbanded--though I hope that will not be for some time yet: he had just
leaped a turf-hole, and was moving on, when, at the distance of about six
yards before him, he saw a fellow coming straight towards him. Bagg says
that he stopped short, as suddenly as if he had heard the word halt, when
marching at double quick time. It was quite a surprise, he says, and he
can't imagine how the fellow was so close upon him before he was aware.
He was an immense tall fellow--Bagg thinks at least two inches taller
than himself--very well dressed in a blue coat and buff breeches for all
the world like a squire when going out hunting. Bagg, however, saw at
once that he had a roguish air, and he was on his guard in a moment.
'Good evening to ye, sodger,' says the fellow, stepping close up