THE MUCKLE HART OF BENMORE. 255 



that, when daylight awoke me, the smugglers and Donald 

 were all quiet and asleep, far past my efforts to rouse them, 

 except one, who was still able to tend the fire under the large 

 black pot. 



"Friday. From the state in which my trusty companion 

 was, with his head on a heap of ashes, I saw it would serve 

 no purpose to awake him, even if I were able to do so. It 

 was quite clear that he could be good for nothing all day. I 

 therefore secured some breakfast and provisions'^ for the day, 

 (part of them oat-cake, which I baked for myself,) tied up 

 Bran to wait Donald's restoration, and departed with my rifle 

 alone. The morning was bright and beautiful; the moun- 

 tain streams overflowing with last night's rain. I was now 

 thrown on my own resources, and my knowledge of the 

 country, which, to say the truth, was far from minute or exact. 

 ' Benna-skiach' was my object to-day, and the corries which 

 lay beyond it, where at this season the large harts were said 

 to resort. My way at first was dreary enough, over a long 

 slop of boggy ground, enlivened, however, by a few traces of 

 deer having crossed, though none of my 'chase.' I at length 

 passed the slope, and soon topped the ridge, and was repaid 

 for my labor by a view of glen, and wood, and water so 

 beautiful, that I sat down to gaze at it, though anxious to get 

 forward. 



" While I lay above the lake, the day suddenly changed, 

 and heavy wreaths of mist came down the mountain sides in 

 rapid succession. They reached me soon, and I was inclosed 

 in an atmosphere through which I could not see twenty yards. 

 It was very cold, too, and I was obliged to move, though 

 scarcely well knowing whither. I followed the course of the 

 lake, and afterwards of the stream which flowed from it, for 

 some time. Now and then a grouse would rise close to me, 

 and, flying a few yards, light again on a hillock, crowing and 

 croaking at the intruder. The heron, in the darkness, came 

 flapping his great wings close past me ; I almost fancied I 



