MORNING RIDE. 45 



bound among the gloom of the thickets, as the feet of the 

 good galloway clattered over the stones. To say that the 

 rider " recked not of the scene so fair," were to do him 

 injustice. No sudden gleam of light shot vividly across 

 the moor, no cataract leaped and dashed down the rocky 

 chasms, no wreaths of mist rose sluggishly to the moun- 

 tain tops, with their light trains flickering behind, the 

 effect of which did not excite his mind powerfully, and 

 awaken it to the most pleasurable sensations. 



" These are thy glorious works, Parent of good ! " 



So mused he thankful. At length, freed from the gloom 

 of the pine woods, his pony dashed forward to the open 

 moor, and the light spread broad around him ; not a cloud 

 is to be seen to indicate the course of the wind ; a moment 

 he checks his horse on the summit of the first hill, and 

 scatters a few shreds of tow ; away they sail to the north. 

 The wind then continued favourable; burn after burn is 

 left behind him ; but still he sees the long cart-track 

 winding into the distance ; and, in the remote sky-line, a 

 few specks, which surely are his men, now near Bruar 

 Lodge. At length the last hill is gained, and from its 

 summit he descries the smoke issuing from the little chim- 

 neys ; joyfully he sees it, and the complacent thoughts of 

 breakfast come like balm over his soul. 



There are some classes of men, alas, who know too well 

 what hunger is (would they were fewer !). Were I called 

 upon off-hand to name a few individuals particularly tor- 

 tured by famine, why then I should say Franklin, Rich- 

 ardson, Ross, and the deer-stalker, who has ridden over 

 moor and mountain, from Blair to Bruar Lodge, before 



