A NIGHT SCENE 249 



of ribs of iron to contain the combustibles. Three 

 men are sufficient to man the boat ; one at the 

 head, another at the stern, as boatmen and leisterers, 

 and the third at the centre to kill the fish and trim 

 the fire. But it will contain more men, if necessary. 



The remainder of the day having been spent in 

 making the arrangements, and the proper hour 

 being now come, Harry Otter and Charlie Purdie 

 went out from the Pavilion to meet the party, who 

 were to assemble at eight o'clock about a mile and 

 a half up the river. The night was most favour- 

 able, it being utterly dark, and not a sough of air 

 stirring. With caution and with difficulty they 

 felt their way step by step at the rocky base of the 

 Scaur, where it dips into the river, till they descried 

 the boat which was to take them across it at the 

 Brig-end pool. The clanking of the chain as it 

 was loosened and flung on the planks sounded 

 harshly in the silence of night ; the oars dipped 

 duly, and they were soon on the opposite side of 

 the river, by which means they cut off a great sweep 

 of the haugh, "a huge half moon, a monstrous 

 cantle out," and proceeded in a more direct line to 

 their mark. They went on in darkness through the 

 chilling dews, now and then stumbling into the 

 patches of furze which were scattered over the 

 haugh ; soon they begin to hear the rushing of the 

 waters through the gorge of the Carrywheel : now 

 it breaks full and loud upon the ear, for they are 

 arrived at the base of the wooded brae that over- 

 hangs the cast. 



Two groups of men, but dimly seen, here await 

 their arrival ; one consists of spectators lying on the 



