THE RISS. 159 



was now dashing along before me, a fellow with the 

 least possible clothing, with little flesh, but tendons 

 like whipcord, who knew the passes and short-cuts 

 over the mountains, and could breast the steepest 

 without stopping ' to take breath. I now compre- 

 hended how in an incredibly short space of time all 

 the fighting men might be called together, how 



" Each valley, each sequestered glen, 

 Mustered its little horde of men," 



when messengers swift of foot were thus sent out to 

 spread the alarm in every direction, causing district 

 after district to burst into a blaze ; as though the burn- 

 ing brand that was borne along and passed from one 

 fleet runner to the other had the power to fire men's 

 hearts and to kindle enthusiasm. Indeed it was 

 Malise himself who was before me, hastening on with 

 the words of Roderick still ringing in his ears : 



" The muster-place be Lanric Mead 

 Instant the time speed, Malise, speed*!" 



We presently came upon the high road, and were 

 at once at the Fall. A large house, singularly neat 

 and clean-looking, with cow-house and barn adjoining, 

 all indicative of substantial prosperity, is the dwelling 

 of an under-forester. He was out when we arrived, 

 which I regretted, for I had heard much of a deed of 

 his that gave proof of his resolute intrepidity : it was 

 as follows. 



One evening, rather late, Reitsch happened to look 



* The Lady of the Lake : The Gathering. 



