I was a strong lad and very angry , and he but a little man ; and he went down before me heavily . By good luck , his knife flew out of his hand as he fell . I picked up both that and his brogues , wished him a good morning , and set off upon my way , leaving him barefoot and disarmed . I chuckled to myself as I went , being sure I was done with that rogue , for a variety of reasons . First , he knew he could have no more of my money ; next , the brogues were worth in that country only a few pence ; and , lastly , the knife , which was really a dagger , it was against the law for him to carry . In about half an hour of walk , I overtook a great , ragged man , moving pretty fast but feeling before him with a staff . He was quite blind , and told me he was a catechist , which should have put me at my ease . But his face went against me ; it seemed dark and dangerous and secret ; and presently , as we began to go on alongside , I saw the steel butt of a pistol sticking from under the flap of his coat-pocket . To carry such a thing meant a fine of fifteen pounds sterling upon a first offence , and transportation to the colonies upon a second . Nor could I quite see why a religious teacher should go armed , or what a blind man could be doing with a pistol . I told him about my guide , for I was proud of what I had done , and my vanity for once got the heels of my prudence . At the mention of the five shillings he cried out so loud that I made up my mind I should say nothing of the other two , and was glad he could not see my blushes . `` Was it too much ? '' I asked , a little faltering . `` Too much ! '' cries he . `` Why , I will guide you to Torosay myself for a dram of brandy . And give you the great pleasure of my company -LRB- me that is a man of some learning -RRB- in the bargain . '' I said I did not see how a blind man could be a guide ; but at that he laughed aloud , and said his stick was eyes enough for an eagle . `` In the Isle of Mull , at least , '' says he , `` where I know every stone and heather-bush by mark of head .
See , now , '' he said , striking right and left , as if to make sure , `` down there a burn is running ; and at the head of it there stands a bit of a small hill with a stone cocked upon the top of that ; and it 's hard at the foot of the hill , that the way runs by to XXXXX ; and the way here , being for droves , is plainly trodden , and will show grassy through the heather . ''
First Torosay brogues coat-pocket dagger hour offence pence pounds second