438 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



one of the heaviest snowstorms of the season began, and 

 rendered all exit from the Vale impossible for about a 

 week a captivity made most agreeable through the happy 

 hospitality at the comfortable manse. It was with the 

 greatest difficulty, and only with the help of alpenstocks, 

 that Mr. Gillan and I struggled up to Droughsburn through 

 the snow, which had almost effaced the road in a few hours. 

 During my stay, I managed daily to reach the cottage, 

 though it looked well-nigh impossible, but only by taking 

 the straightest path over field, dike and hill ; for all land- 

 marks were hidden from sight under the continuous 

 blinding drift a severe experience never to be forgotten. 



I had written John of my coming, so as to prepare him 

 for it, and he had been eagerly anticipating it for some 

 time, rising at nights to go to meet me, and sometimes, 

 during the day, asking his nurse to do the same or to 

 accompany him. The unexpected shower of gold that 

 had fallen upon him in the evening of his life in conse- 

 quence of my appeal, had refreshed and strengthened him. 

 It now roused his interest in my coming, and that morning 

 he had been considerably exhausted by going to the door 

 several times, eager for my arrival. When we entered, we 

 found him seated in his great cosy chair, in the best room, 

 close by the cheerful fire, beside Mrs. Allanach ; for he 

 could not now long be left alone. He looked tidy and 

 comfortable, but painfully changed for the worse since I 

 had seen him. His early excitement in anticipation of our 

 coming had told upon his strength, and he looked quite 

 absent-minded. When the minister shook hands with him, 

 John scarcely recalled him and returned his greeting with 

 a vacant look. It had to be explained to him who I was* 



