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Chapter 15
ButtheseHighlandbeggarsstoodontheirdignity,askedalmsonlytobuysnuff(bytheiraccount)andwouldgivenochange.
Tobesure,thiswasnoconcernofmine,exceptinsofarasitentertainedmebytheway.Whatwasmuchmoretothepurpose,fewhadanyEnglish,andthesefew(unlesstheywereofthebrotherhoodofbeggars)notveryanxioustoplaceitatmyservice.IknewTorosaytobemydestination,andrepeatedthenametothemandpointed;butinsteadofsimplypointinginreply,theywouldgivemeascreedoftheGaelicthatsetmefoolish;soitwassmallwonderifIwentoutofmyroadasoftenasIstayedinit.
Atlast,abouteightatnight,andalreadyveryweary,Icametoalonehouse,whereIaskedadmittance,andwasrefused,untilIbethoughtmeofthepowerofmoneyinsopooracountry,andhelduponeofmyguineasinmyfingerandthumb.Thereupon,themanofthehouse,whohadhithertopretendedtohavenoEnglish,anddrivenmefromhisdoorbysignals,suddenlybegantospeakasclearlyaswasneedful,andagreedforfiveshillingstogivemeanight’slodgingandguidemethenextdaytoTorosay.
Isleptuneasilythatnight,fearingIshouldberobbed;butImighthavesparedmyselfthepain;formyhostwasnorobber,onlymiserablypoorandagreatcheat.Hewasnotaloneinhispoverty;forthenextmorning,wemustgofivemilesabouttothehouseofwhathecalledarichmantohaveoneofmyguineaschanged.
