The Black Dwarf : Large Print

In one of the most remote districts of the south of Scotland, where an ideal line, drawnalong the tops of lofty and bleak mountains, separates that land from her sister kingdom, ayoung man, called Halbert, or Hobbie Elliot, a substantial farmer, who boasted his descentfrom old Martin Elliot of the Preakin-tower, noted in Border story and song, was on hisreturn from deer-stalking.

The deer, once so numerous among these solitary wastes, werenow reduced to a very few herds, which, sheltering themselves in the most remote andinaccessible recesses, rendered the task of pursuing them equally toilsome and precarious.There were, however, found many youth of the country ardently attached to this sport,with all its dangers and fatigues.

The sword had been sheathed upon the Borders for morethan a hundred years, by the peaceful union of the crowns in the reign of James the First ofGreat Britain.

Still the country retained traces of what it had been in former days; theinhabitants, their more peaceful avocations having been repeatedly interrupted by the civilwars of the preceding century, were scarce yet broken in to the habits of regular industry,sheep-farming had not been introduced upon any considerable scale, and the feeding ofblack cattle was the chief purpose to which the hills and valleys were applied.

Near to thefarmer's house, the tenant usually contrived to raise such a crop of oats or barley, asafforded meal for his family; and the whole of this slovenly and imperfect mode ofcultivation left much time upon his own hands, and those of his domestics.

This was usuallyemployed by the young men in hunting and fishing; and the spirit of adventure, whichformerly led to raids and forays in the same districts, was still to be discovered in theeagerness with which they pursued those rural sports.