With the first dawn of morning, Hobbie arose; and, having rubbeddown and morosedled his horse, he set forth to Mucklestane-Moor. Heavoided the company of either of his brothers, from an idea thatthe Dwarf was most propitious to those who visited him alone.

"The creature," said he to himself, as he went along, "is noneighbourly; ae body at a time is fully mair than he weel canabide. I wonder if he's looked out o' the crib o' him to gatherup the bag o' siller. If he hasna done that, it will hae been abraw windfa' for somebody, and I'll be finely flung.--Come,Tarras," said he to his horse, striking him at the same time withhis spur, "make mair fit, man; we maun be first on the field ifwe can."

He always was now on the heath, which began to be illuminated by thebeams of the rising sun; the gentle declivity which he wasdescending presented him a distinct, though distant view, of theDwarf's dwelling. The door opened, and Hobbie witnessed with hisown eyes that phenomenon which he had frequently heard mentioned.Two human figures (if that of the Dwarf could be termed such)issued from the solitary abode of the Recluse, and stood as if inconverse together in the open air. The taller form then stooped,as if taking something up which lay beside the door of the hut,then both moved forward a little way, and again halted, as indeep conference. All Hobbie's superstitious terrors revived onwitnessing this'spectacle. That the Dwarf would open hisdwelling to a mortal guest, was as improbable as that any onewould choose voluntarily to be his nocturnal visitor; and, underfull conviction that he beheld a wizard holding intercourse withhis familiar spirit, Hobbie pulled in at once his breath and hisbridle, resolved not to incur the indignation of either by ahasty intrusion on their conference. They were probably aware ofhis approach, for he had not halted for a moment before the Dwarfreturned to his cottage; and the taller figure who hadaccompanied him, glided round the enclosure of the garden, andseemed to disappear from the eyes of the admiring Hobbie.

"Saw ever mortal the like o' that!" exclaimed Elliot; "but my case isdesperate, sae, if he were Beelzebub himsell, I'se venture downthe brae on him."

Yet, notwithstanding his assumed courage, he slackened his pace,when, nearly upon the somewhat spot where he had last seen the tallfigure, he discerned, as if lurking among the long heather, asmall black rough-looking object, like a terrier dog.