436 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



had been very keen for days, and the roads were covered 

 with ice, which made walking difficult even to the strong, 

 Poor John fell on the way and cut his face badly, but not 

 having fainted, he was able to gather himself up and 

 continue his journey. When he appeared at his friend's, 

 they were alarmed to see him covered with blood, for the 

 wound had bled profusely. Mrs. Birse soon bathed the 

 place, and washed the blood from his face and dress. With 

 the help of a little stimulant, he was restored to somewhat 

 of his old blitheness, and a warm cup of tea completed the 

 renovation. The sturdy old traveller would not allow any 

 one to accompany him homewards, saying he was quite 

 able for the journey himself. Knowing the man, they 

 allowed him to depart, after seeing him so far on his way. 



It proved too much for him, however, with the loss of 

 blood he had sustained and the state of the roads, and he 

 fainted about half-way home. It was a blessing he did not 

 fall into the burn which runs by the highway. There, 

 happily, he was observed by Mary Munro, a young servant 

 at a neighbouring farm, who chanced to pass along the 

 road shortly after, fetching home a load of turnips in a 

 wheel-barrow. She found him partially recovered, holding 

 hard by the paling that ran along the stream, but so 

 exhausted that, even with her strong arms, he could not 

 move a step. She therefore emptied the turnips from the 

 barrow, put him into it, and carried him along the road and 

 up by the Droichs burn towards the cottage. Here she was 

 noticed by Peeny Allanach, who had come to seek him. 

 He was brought home by the two kindly women, and put 

 to bed, utterly prostrate. He was unable to rise again for 

 a fortnight. The doctor was sent for, and prescribed for 



