STORM IN THE MOUNTAINS. 135 



" Why, the same thing chanced to Glengarry, and he said 

 naething ava anent it." 



" Very likely, Sandy ; but you see I am of a more talka- 

 tive disposition ; but I must tell you, that in bygone times, 

 when a warrior came into a strange country, if he kept the 

 point of his spear forward, he was supposed to come as an 

 enemy, and was treated as such ; but if he kept the point 

 behind him, it was a token of friendship, and they feasted 

 him, and gave him venison and whiskey." 



" I ken that was when I was a callan, for I didn't hear 

 aething anent it ; but as the neb of the rifle is ahint, and as 

 there is nae venison, I must tak' aff the Loch Rannoch with- 

 out it." 



" As in duty bound ; very well, Sandy, I find thee apt." 



A considerable space of ground had now been traversed 

 without any appearance of deer, in spite of the quick and 

 sagacious glance of the hill-man ; the air had turned hot 

 and close, and the weather was brewing up dark and heavy. 

 Each man raised his eyes to the south and to the east, but 

 still in silence. 



" Whish whish down low I had a gliff of them in 

 the sun blink ; hey, now the shadow is come ower : draw 

 ahint a wee bit, we shall spy them again in the clearing ; 

 Ou, what a dunner I They wunna bide there lang." 



The clouds were now advancing in dark volumes, with 

 their hard masses rent, as it were, from top to bottom : the 

 thunder travelled sullenly amongst the distant chain of 

 mountains ; darker and darker still grew the huge form of 

 Ben-y-gloe ; slowly, determined, but still onward came the 

 solemn mass ; for a while it seemed to rest behind the 

 heights of Cairn-marnoc, whilst the sun cast a last grim 

 smile on its heathery braes. 



" I am thinking we shall have a blad of weet." 



" I have a slight suspicion of that myself, Maclaren, so we 

 may as well go to Cairn Derig Beg, where the hill is steep, 

 and we shall be more in the beild." 



The rising wind came rustling on with a mournful sound ; 

 then, as it swelled into a raging blast, down at once fell the 

 drenching torrent; and the big drops lashing along the 

 moor, gave back a spray like the dashing of a waterfall : 



