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When he discovered a female, he apparently guessed that she was his cousin Hilda; and striking little Neogle, he turned the pony's head, and rode off as fast as the creature could gallop. The boat continued her course to the head of the voe.
Lawrence was seen to put on his boots, then hurrying to the stable he mounted Neogle, and followed by Surly Grind, he was trotting off, when Captain Maitland hailed him, and inquired where he was going. "To Navie Grind, Captain," was his answer.
On gallops the Neogle over hill and down, and bog, and loch, and stream, and voe; nothing stops him till the sea is reached, and then across it he flies till he is over the deep water, when down he dives in a mass of flame, with loud shrieks of mocking laughter, and never again is the poor miller heard of." "That's a curious notion, Mr Lawrence," observed Captain Maitland.
Poor Lawrence, even more than any one else, felt the weight of his guardian's presence whenever he was compelled to remain at home; but he had the resource of which he never failed to avail himself when the weather allowed him of going out in his boat, of wandering about the island on Neogle, with Surly Grind, or of visiting his cavern.
If he is a young miller, and has not heard about the Neogle, or doesn't believe in it, or forgets about it `Ho, ho! says he, `the mill is going on all smooth and pleasantly, so I'll just take a gallop, and be back before it's time to put in more grist. On that he leaps on the seeming pony, when off goes the trow, fleet as the winds. Away, away he goes.
Is there anything of the nature of a Trow in your little animal?" "More, perhaps, than you think of, friend," answered Lawrence, gravely. "Neogle can do everything but speak; whatever I tell him he does it immediately.
The sea will not go down before you have had time to break your fast, nor will, I trust, the Spanish ship heave in sight." Notwithstanding, however, all the hospitable old sailor's persuasions, Lawrence would only be persuaded to take a handful of oatcake and a draught of milk; and then away he trotted on Neogle, followed by Surly Grind, towards the west.
The country people gave the name of the Neogle to a wicked sort of trow, whom they believe lives in the water, and whose great aim is to carry off people to destroy them. On that account he appears in the shape of a pretty pony, bridled and saddled, and all ready for a pleasant gallop across the country. He has a great fancy for carrying off millers. To do this he stops the wheel of the mill.
"I never heard it before; but do you say the people believe in it?" "Troth do I; and why should they not?" answered Lawrence, blinking his eyes. "There are many things which you have seen in your voyages, and which would seem very strange to our people, if you were to tell of them. As to the Neogle, I never saw one that I know of, but I should be very cautious about mounting him if I did."
"He may do all that and not be a trow," observed Morton, laughing; for he, as well as Captain Maitland, was anxious to prevent Lawrence's thoughts running upon the recent events. "Right, cousin Morton, right," answered Lawrence. "I came honestly by him by purchase, and called him Neogle on account of his strength, and sagacity, and docility.
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