CHAP. x. LEA VING THE CA VE. 201 



with difficulty, and found that his spine had been 

 hurt. With the help of two of the men, he was at 

 last able to walk very slowly to the cave. They 

 urged him to allow them to carry him to the cottage 

 near the Mineral Well. But he preferred to rest in 

 the cave. They prepared a bed of seaweed for him, 

 on which he lay down. His protectors then left 

 him, and, spite of his pain, he fell asleep. He must 

 have slept some time, for he was awakened by the 

 murmuring of the sea, which was fast approaching 

 the cave. 



Feeling that his sickly feeling had left him, and 

 that he was on the whole much better, although his 

 left side and shoulder were still very painful, he 

 gathered himself together and rose to his feet. He 

 staggered about a little at first ; but he was at last 

 able to return in search of his gun. He found it in 

 a woeful plight. The stock was broken to bits, and 

 the barrel and lock were laid in the hollow. He 

 gathered up the fragments of the companion of his 

 travels for so many years ; and, divesting himself of 

 the heaviest of his wallets, he left them in a cor- 

 ner of the cave. Then, keeping hold of the rocks, he 

 contrived to reach the inner side of the Tarlair valley. 

 From thence he had a weary walk to Banff. He took 

 many rests by the way, and at length reached 

 home in the afternoon, sore, sick, and weary ; and 

 went to bed. His wounds were then looked to. It 

 was found that none of his ribs were broken, and 



