than to find theſe poor Beaſts, in a Morning, all over in a Sweat and Foam, and tired almoſt to death, when their Owners have believed they have never been out of the Stable. A Gentlemen of Ballafletcher aſſured me, he had Three or Four of his beſt Horſes killed with theſe nocturnal Journies.
At my firſt coming into the Iſland, and hearing theſe ſort of Stories, I imputed the giving Credit to them merely to the Simplicity of the poor Creatures who related them; but was ſtrangely ſurprized when I heard other Narratives of this kind, and altogether as abſurd, atteſted by Men who paſſed for Perſons of ſound Judgment. Among this Number, was a Gentleman my dear Neighbour, who affirmed with the moſt ſolemn Aſſeverations, that being of my Opinion, and entirely averſe to the Belief that any ſuch Beings were permitted to wander for the Purpoſes related of them, he had been at laſt convinced by the Appearance of ſeveral little Figures playing and leaping over ſome Stones in a Field, whom, a few Yards diſtance, he imagined were School-Boys, and intended, when he come near
enough,
