f unlimited means and unusual smartness, quite set him up in his own
estimation.

He began to feel quite elated at his present position, and felt himself a
hero as he related to the attentive strangers the many strange things he
had seen since he left home, quite ignoring the fact that some of his
listeners might have been "abroad" as well as himself.

But it was impossible to put a damper on this loquacious countryman, even
though he loudly set forth his own ignorance.

"Oh! but I'm a great traveller!" said he. "There's nae kennin' hoo mony
miles I've travelled since I left ma hame on the north side o' the Islan'!
Let's see; it's thirty miles frae there to the toon, an' it tak's a hale
day to cover the distance wi' a loaded kairt o' tawties, let me tell ye!
Then, whan we were snug aboard the vessel, guidness only kens hoo mony
miles we went afore we cam' fornenst the city o' Halifax, for we were three
days on the michty ocean, at the mercy o' ony storm that micht come alang
unawares. Yes, indeed, an' we travelled alang through the dark nicht as
weel, they tell me, though that I'm no prepared to say, seem' that I was
fast asleep in the hold," and he looked around to see if any of his hearers
doubted his word. "Then, whan we got to the wharf in Halifax, an' I selt ma
tawties an' oats, I cam' ashore an' tramped the streets o' Halifax, up hill
an' doon dale, till ma new buits are a' worn oot behin', as ye can see for
yersel's," and he lifted up his feet, one after the other, that the truth
of his words might be verified; then continuing: "It was whan the thiefin'
scoon'rels met me an' made ma acquaintance that I gaed wrang; but I never
suspected they'd start me on ma travels again, an' withoot ma kennin',
tae--ay, an' sen' me aff withoot as muckle as a copper in ma pocket, at a',
at a'! no even as muckle as wad buy me a bit o' breakfast, which the guid
folk at Truro gied me for naethin', an', if it hadna been for them, I don't
think I wad ever hae been able to fin' ma way back to ma hame on the farm.
But here I am, richt amang the gentlemen an' ladies, travellin' alang like
the Queen hersel' micht be prood to dae. Ay, but it's a long story I'll hae
to tell them at hame whan ainst I get back to ma ain kintry again, an' it's
themsel's that'll be dum'foon'ert to hear me tell aboot the mony kinds o'
folk ain meets whan they gang abroad!"

"Have you met any naked savages since you left your distant country?" asked
one of the