'It was the auld wife, Gilchrist, wanted it.' 'Aweel, aweel,' said the other; and presently, remembering his manners, and looking on me with a solemn grin, 'A fine day!' says he.
I agreed with him, and asked him how he did.
'Brawly,' was the reply; and without further civilities, the pair proceeded to get the cattle under way.

This, as well as almost all the herding, was the work of a pair of comely and intelligent dogs, directed by Sim or Candlish in little more than monosyllables.

Presently we were ascending the side of the mountain by a rude green track, whose presence I had not hitherto observed.

A continual sound of munching and the crying of a great quantity of moor birds accompanied our progress, which the deliberate pace and perennial appetite of the cattle rendered wearisomely slow.

In the midst my two conductors marched in a contented silence that I could not but admire.