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 Torosay ; and the way here , being for droves , is plainly trodden , and will show grassy through the heather . '' I had to own he was right in every feature , and told my wonder . `` Ha ! '' says he , `` that 's nothing . Would ye believe me now , that before the Act came out , and when there were weepons in this country , I could shoot ? Ay , could I ! '' cries he , and then with a leer : `` If ye had such a thing as a pistol here to try with , I would show ye how it 's done . '' I told him I had nothing of the sort , and gave him a wider berth . If he had known , his pistol stuck at that time quite plainly out of his pocket , and I could see the sun twinkle on the steel of the butt . But by the better luck for me , he knew nothing , thought all was covered , and lied on in the dark . He then began to question me cunningly , where I came from , whether I was rich , whether I could change a five-shilling piece for him -LRB- which he declared he had that moment in his sporran -RRB- , and all the time he kept edging up to me and I avoiding him . We were now upon a sort of green cattle-track which crossed the hills towards Torosay , and we kept changing sides upon that like dancers in a reel . I had so plainly the upper-hand that my spirits rose , and indeed I took a pleasure in this game of blindman 's buff ; but the catechist grew angrier and angrier , and at last began to swear in Gaelic and to strike for my legs with his staff . Then I told him that , sure enough , I had a pistol in my pocket as well as he , and if he did not strike across the hill due south I would even blow his brains out . He became at once very polite , and after trying to soften me for some time , but quite in vain , he cursed me once more in Gaelic and took himself off . I watched him striding along , through bog and brier , tapping with his stick , until he turned the end of a hill and disappeared in the next hollow . Then I struck on again for Torosay , much better pleased to be alone than to travel with that man of learning . This was an unlucky day ; and these two , of whom I had just rid myself , one after the other , were the two worst men I met with in the Highlands .
At Torosay , on the Sound of XXXXX and looking over to the mainland of Morven , there was an inn with an innkeeper , who was a Maclean , it appeared , of a very high family ; for to keep an inn is thought even more genteel in the Highlands than it is with us , perhaps as partaking of hospitality , or perhaps because the trade is idle and drunken .
Act Highlands Mull Torosay catechist cattle-track left right sporran weepons