d,
when his brother came against him inadvertently, he had aimed a blow at
him with his foot, which, if it had taken effect, would have killed
him. But as to the story of the apparition in fair day-light--the
flying from the face of it--the running foul of his brother pursuing
him, and knocking him down, why the judge smiled at the relation, and
saying: "It was a very extraordinary story," he remanded George to
prison, leaving the matter to the High Court of Justiciary.

When the case came before that court, matters took a different turn.
The constant and sullen attendance of the one brother upon the other
excited suspicions; and these were in some manner confirmed when the
guards at Queensberry House deported that the prisoner went by them on
his way to the hill that morning, about twenty minutes before the
complainant, and, when the latter passed, he asked if such a young man
had passed before him, describing the prisoner's appearance to them;
and that, on being answered in the affirmative, he mended his pace and
fell a-running.

The Lord Justice, on hearing this, asked the prisoner if he had any
suspicions that his brother had a design on his life.

He answered that all along, from the time of their first unfortunate
meeting, his brother had dogged his steps so constantly, and so
unaccountably, that he was convinced it was with some intent out of the
ordinary course of events; and that if, as his lordship supposed, it
was indeed his shadow that he had seen approaching him through the
mist, then, from the cowering and cautious manner that it advanced,
there was no little doubt that his brother's design had been to push
him headlong from the cliff that morning.

A conversation then took place between the judge and the Lord Advocate;
and, in the meantime, a bustle was seen in the hall; on which the doors
were ordered to be guarded, and, behold, the precious Mr. R. Wringhim
was taken into custody, trying to make his escape out of court. Finally
it turned out that George was honourably acquitted, and young Wringhim
bound over to keep the peace, with heavy penalties and securities.

That was a day of high exultation to George and his youthful
associates, all of whom abhorred Wringhim; and, the evening being spent
in great glee, it was agreed between Mr. Adam Gordon and George that
their visit to the Highlands, though thus long delayed, was not to be
abandoned; and though they had, through the machinations of an
incen