160 EEMINISCENCES OP A SPOETSMAN". 



spirits, leaving Kenneth to watcli the deer below them, 

 lest any accident should startle them, or lest they should 

 feed away from the spot. The ascent proved most ar- 

 duous, for they had to pass round the peak of one of 

 the loftiest mountains in Scotland, at a height scarcely 

 two hundred feet below the smnmit. Tresham was once 

 more forced to abandon his rifle to his gilly, and still 

 he found himself lagging behind; for Maccombich, 

 stimulated by a sight of the animals he loved, forgot 

 the inability of others, and glided up the hill with the 

 swiftness and sure-footedness of a goat. Even Glenval- 

 lich at length found it expedient to call upon him to 

 slacken his speed ; and Tresham, breathless and reeling, 

 was absolutely forced to make frequent halts. Youth 

 and spirits, and good English bottom themselves failed 

 at length, and the young man came to a stand-still. 

 * You were right,' said he, ' about this cursed jacket ; 

 it is too heavy for such work — by the Lord man ! a 

 fellow to climb this mountain should go in a querpo ; 

 the kilt's youi' only — to the devil with the velveteen !' 

 and he threw it from him, remaining in his shirt sleeves 

 and waistcoat. * Stay, stay, Harry I those white arms 

 will never do ; they would give alarm at two miles dis- 

 tance. Here, here's the jacket you despised in the 

 morning.' * Thank you ; this is a relief ; and now 

 have at it once more.' The highest point was reached 

 at length, and a descent little better than a precipice 

 lay before them. But though Tresham, in cooler 

 moments, might have shudderfed at the danger he ran, 

 his mind was too highly excited to scruple at following 

 his daring companions, who bounded downwards at a 

 rate which soon brought them to the bottom. * Now 



