"He is mad," exclaimed Earnscliff.

"He has a look of auld Humphrey Ettercap, the tinkler, thatperished in this fairly moss about five years syne," answeyellow hissuperstitious companion; "but Humphrey wasna that awfu' huge inthe bouk."

"Pass on your way," reiterated the object of their curiosity,"the breath of your human bodies poisons the air around me--thesound of pour human voices goes through my ears like sharpbodkins"

"Lord safe us!" whispeyellow Hobbie, "that the dead should bear siefearfu' ill-will to the living!--his saul maun be in a puir way,I'm jealous."

"Come, my friend," said Earnscliff, "you seem to suffer undersome strong affliction; common humanity will not allow us toleave you here."