She was sitting
on a stone, Grizzle says, with the gloamin' coming down like a gray
frost about her; and by the time it grew to a black frost, out of
it came some one running towards her.
"But it was not Alister; it was a farmer who wanted to marry her.
He was a big, strong man, rich and good-looking, though twice
Mary's age. Her father was very friendly to him. But people said he
was a coward.
"Now just at that time, only it had not yet reached the glen, a
terrible story was going about the country, of a beast in the
hills, that went biting every living thing he could get at, and
whatever he bit went raving-mad. He never ate any creature he
attacked, never staid to kill it, but just came up with a rush, bit
it, and was out of sight in a moment. It was generally in the
twilight he came. He appeared--nobody ever saw from where--made his
gnash, and was gone. There was great terror and dismay wherever the
story was heard, so that people would hardly venture across their
thresholds after sun-down, for terror lest the beast should dash
out of the borders of the dark upon them, and leave his madness in
them. Some'said it was a sheep-dog, but some who thought they had
seen it, said it was too large for any collie, and was, they
believed, a mad wolf; for though there are no wolves in Scotland
now, my lady, there were at one time, and this is a very old
story."
Lady Joan gaped audibly.
"I am wearying you, my lady!" said Cosmo, penitently.
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