THE SPORT BEGINS. 251 



along in fitful gusts, and the rain drops striking fiercely 

 against the panes of the casement ; shortly, perhaps, they 

 cease ; the moon flashes out for awhile, and her light strikes 

 clear against the furniture of the little chamber ; then the 

 black clouds hurry along, blot out her orb, and leave the 

 cottage and glen in darkness and in mystery : thus the night 

 wanes ; and amid these contentions of nature, the blustering 

 waters of the Tilt sound loud and continuous : their voice 

 may be somewhat smothered for the moment by the noise 

 of the wind ; but, in proportion as that abates, the eternal 

 roar of the torrent swells forth again in all its turbulence. 



At length the morning began to dawn, and Tortoise went 

 forth, and paced about the Lodge, that he might endeavour 

 to satisfy himself as to the weather. The wind was still 

 fair ; but the air was raw and wintry, and a thick vapour 

 rested upon the mountain ranges. Well, that might pass 

 away : and now for the morning meal. Who can tell how 

 often the bellows was applied to the sullen fuel, and how 

 reluctant the peats were to confess the slightest capacity 

 for a flare-up ? At length, after much coaxing and perse- 

 verance, behold a faint ignition ; thus things began to 

 brighten, and breakfast was soon put upon the table, warm 

 and redundant. But the less we say about the viands the 

 better ; we are rather shy of mentioning such things in 

 detail. We should despair, indeed, of making ourselves 

 understood as to the extent to which the principle of eating 

 may be carried on by the minions of the mountain. 



We may be allowed to hint our opinion, however, that 

 those were rational times, when maids of honour drank 

 ale and ate chines of beef at sunrise, with true feminine 

 alacrity. Well, let this pass. Our temptations were 

 vehement, we own, but we do not say we indulged them ; 

 and, having before discussed this subject, it does not become 

 us to resume it. We are already on our shelties, replete or 

 empty, it matters not. 



And now the ponies plant their feet heavily, and go 

 winding and tugging up the mountain. Captain Stewart 

 strikes off with his men to the right. " Good sport to you, 

 Captain, and a steady hand !" 



Tortoise aspires at once to reach the nearest sky-line ; the 



