circle to while away the time, and heard the huge bell of St. Giles's toll each
successive hour in swelling tones, which were instantly attested by those of the
other steeples in succession. He had heard seven struck in this manner, when he
began to think he might venture to approach nearer to St. Leonard's, from which
he was still a mile distant. Accordingly he descended from his lofty station as
low as the bottom of the valley, which divides Salisbury Crags from those small
rocks which take their name from Saint Leonard. It is, as many of my readers may
know, a deep, wild, grassy valley, scattered with huge rocks and fragments which
have descended from the cliffs and steep ascent to the east.
    This sequestered dell, as well as other places of the open pasturage of the
King's Park, was, about this time, often the resort of the gallants of the time
who had affairs of honour to discuss with the sword. Duels were then very common
in Scotland, for the gentry were at once idle, haughty, fierce, divided by
faction, and addicted to intemperance, so that there lacked neither provocation,
nor inclination to resent it when given; and the sword, which was part of every
gentleman's dress, was the only weapon used for the decision of such
differences. When, therefore, Butler observed a young man, skulking, apparently
to avoid observation, among the scattered rocks at some distance from the
footpath, he was naturally led to suppose that he had sought this lonely spot
upon that evil errand. He was so strongly impressed with this, that,
notwithstanding his own distress of mind, he could not, according to his sense
of duty as a clergyman, pass this person without speaking to him. There are
times, thought he to himself, when the slightest interference may avert a great
calamity - when a word spoken in season may do more for prevention than the
eloquence of Tully could do for remedying evil - And for my own griefs, be they
as they may, I shall feel them the lighter, if they divert me not from the
prosecution of my duty.
    Thus thinking and feeling, he quitted the ordinary path, and advanced nearer
the object he had noticed. The man at first directed his course towards the
hill, in order, as it appeared, to avoid him; but when he saw that Butler seemed
disposed to follow him, he adjusted his hat fiercely, turned round, and came
forward, as if to meet and defy scrutiny.
    Butler had an opportunity of accurately studying