t a young
fellow from Ulva to take the place of Fraser; and from that time to the
end of the fishing season perfect peace and harmony prevailed between
master and men.

But if Lady Macleod and Janet saw no change whatever in Macleod's manner
after his return from the South, Hamish, who was more alone with the
young man, did. Why this strange indifference to the very occupations
that used to be the chief interest of his life? He would not go out
after the deer; the velvet would be on their horns yet. He would not go
out after the grouse: what was the use of disturbing them before Mr.
Ogilvie came up?

"I am in no hurry," he said, almost petulantly. "Shall I not have to be
here the whole winter for the shooting?"--and Hamish was amazed to hear
him talk of the winter shooting as some compulsory duty, whereas in
these parts it far exceeded in variety and interest the very limited
low-ground shooting of the autumn. Until young Ogilvie came up, Macleod
never had a gun in his hand. He had gone fishing two or three days; but
had generally ended by surrendering his rod to Hamish, and going for a
walk up the glen, alone. The only thing he seemed to care about, in the
way of out of door occupation, was the procuring of otter-skins; and
every man and boy in his service was ordered to keep a sharp lookout on
that stormy coast for the prince of fur-bearing animals. Years before he
had got enough skins together for a jacket for his cousin Janet; and
that garment of beautiful thick black fur--dyed black, of course--was as
silken and rich as when it was made. Why should he forget his own theory
of letting all animals have a chance in urging a war of extermination
against the otter?

This preoccupation of mind, of which Hamish was alone observant, was
nearly inflicting a cruel injury on Hamish himself. On the morning of
the day on which Ogilvie was expected to arrive, Hamish went in to his
master's library. Macleod had been reading a book, but he had pushed it
aside, and now both his elbows were on the table, and he was leaning his
head on his hands, apparently in deep meditation of some kind or other.

"Will I tek the bandage off Nell's foot now, sir?"

"Oh yes, if you like. You know as much as I do about it."

"Oh, I am quite sure," said Hamish, brightly, "that she will do ferry
well to-morrow. I will tek her whatever; and I can send her home if it
is too much for her."

Macleod took up his book again.

"Very well, Hamish. Bu