With regard to the proverb "Between Bel's two fires," Mr. Huddleston in his new edition of Toland (1814) adds a note in which he says:--"As Mr. Toland in his note on this passage, informs us the Irish phrase is Ittir dha theine Bheil; Dr. Smith has also given us the Scottish phrase, Gabha Bheil, _i.e._, the jeopardy of Bel. Both agree that these expressions denote one in the most imminent danger. Mr. Toland says the men and beasts to be sacrificed passed between two fires, and that hence the proverb originated. Dr. Smith, on the contrary, imagines that this was one of the Druidical ordeals whereby criminals were tried; and instead of making them pass betwixt the fires, makes them march directly across them. Indeed, he supposed the Druids were kind enough to anoint the feet of the criminals, and render them invulnerable to the flames. If so there could have been neither danger nor trial. It may also be remarked, that had the doctor's hypothesis been well founded, there was no occasion for two fires, whereas by the phrase, _between Bel's two fires_, we know that two were used. Doctor Smith has evidently confounded the Gabha Bheil with a feat practised by the Hirpins on Mount Soracte." It seems that the expression used by the Scotch expressive of a man in difficulties, "He is between the two fires of Bel," was common enough to attract the attention of other writers than those we have cited, and of most travellers in the Highlands. Martin mentions it in his "Western Isles," as also Shaw and the Rev. D. M'Queen. The latter is cited by Leslie as a Gaelic scholar of the last century, who in regard to the expression, "He is betwixt two Beltein fires," gives as an explanation that the Celtic tribes in their sacred enclosures offered sacrifices, commonly horses, that were burnt between two large fires, and Leslie adds, "On this it may be remarked that horses were sacrificed to the sun by the Arian race from the earliest times; and this continued to be practised by Hindus, Persians, and other nations. In Britain it is probable that our heathen ancestors sacrificed horses, and it is certain that they ate them."