AMONG THE SOUTHERN UPLANDS 219 



The ascending road leads into the midst of the 

 fray into the very presence of the raider. The 

 storm takes visible form in the mist which sweeps 

 past swirls, lifts for a moment to reveal a few 

 yards of the hillside, and then, for a like brief 

 interval, settles round, wrapping me to my very 

 clothes. 



Two hours later, when I am beginning to think 

 that I have been the plaything of the elements 

 about long enough, I come suddenly on shelter. I do 

 not see the cottage until I can almost touch it. In 

 some of the stiller moments of the storm I must have 

 passed unawares ; but the veil lifts, and there it is. 



The thought of lodging had not troubled me 

 when I started, nor in the earlier hours of the day. 

 If it came, good and well ; if not, then the earth 

 was big enough. But I had not reckoned on this. 

 Certain who preceded me, tell of their experience in 

 the same neighbourhood : 



" As there were large quantities of the common 

 bracken, we unanimously resolved to bivouac there 

 for the night ; and having partaken of our evening 

 meal, and drunk from the clear gushing stream, we 

 laid ourselves down to sleep, with the sky above as 

 our curtain, and the majestic hill at our backs 

 and on either side as our bed-posts. Our love for 



