And mony ane my father saw when he used to come hame frae the fairs at e'en, wi' a drap drink in his head, honest man." Earnscliff was somewhat entertained with the gradual declension of superstition from one generation to another which was inferred In this last observation; and they continued to reason on such subjects, until they came in sight of the upright stone which gave name to the moor.
"As I shall answer," says Hobbie, "yonder's the creature creeping about yet!--But it's daylight, and you have your gun, and I brought out my bit whinger--I think we may venture on him." "By all manner of means," said Earnscliff; "but, in the name of wonder, what can he be doing there ?" "Biggin a dry-stane dyke, I think, wi' the grey geese, as they ca' thae great loose stanes--Odd, that passes a' thing I e'er heard tell of!" As they approached nearer, Earnscliff could not help agreeing with his companion.

The figure they had seen the night before seemed slowly and toilsomely labouring to pile the large stones one upon another, as if to form a small enclosure.

Materials lay around him in great plenty, but the labour of carrying on the work was immense, from the size of most of the stones; and it seemed astonishing that he should have succeeded in moving several which he had already arranged for the foundation of his edifice.

He was struggling to move a fragment of great size when the two young men came up, and was so intent upon executing his purpose, that he did not perceive them till they were close upon him.

In straining and heaving at the stone, in order to place it according to his wish, he displayed a degree of strength which seemed utterly inconsistent with his size and apparent deformity.