A NIGHT SCENE 249 



and trim the fire. But it will contain more men, if 

 necessary. 



The remainder of the day having been spent in 

 making the arrangements, and the proper hour 

 being now come, Harry Otter and Charlie Purdie 

 went out from the Pavilion to meet the party, who 

 were to assemble at eight o'clock about a mile and 

 a half up the river. The night was most favourable, 

 it being utterly dark, and not a sough of air stirring. 

 With caution and with difficulty they felt their way 

 step by step at the rocky base of the Scaur, where it 

 dips into the river, till they descried the boat which 

 was to take them across it at the Brig-end pool. 

 The clanking of the chain as it was loosened and 

 flung on the planks sounded harshly in the silence 

 of night ; the oars dipped duly, and they were soon 

 on the opposite side of the river, by which means 

 they cut off a great sweep of the haugh, " a huge half 

 moon, a monstrous cantle out," and proceeded in a 

 more direct line to their mark. They went on in 

 darkness through the chilling dews, now and then 

 stumbling into the patches of furze which were scat- 

 tered over the haugh ; soon they begin to hear the 

 rushing of the waters through the gorge of the Carry- 

 wheel : now it breaks full and loud upon the ear, for 

 they are arrived at the base of the wooded brae that 

 overhangs the cast. 



Two groups of men, but dimly seen, here await 

 their arrival ; one consists of spectators lying on 

 the ground with their plaids thrown athwart their 

 bodies, and the other of the heroes who were to 

 figure in the grand operation : these latter were 



