50 ASCENT OF BEN DAIRG. 



use mine whenever you feel inclined to do so. I will 

 explain the abstruse science to you, and all the meaning of 

 our operations as clearly as I can, and I hope that they will 

 awaken your interest. The men are ready, and the dogs 

 are in the leash, so let us sally forth. See, we must 

 ascend this mountain ; it is called Ben Dairg, which means 

 the red hill ; and, when we are near its summit, we shall 

 be at the head of our cast." 



" That will not take us long, I think, though it seems 

 pretty steep ; but the top is not far off." 



"You cannot see the top from hence; but when we 

 arrive at the point, which you mistake for it, which is a 

 mere brae, the ascent is somewhat steeper, till you come 

 to a naked point of rock, and sundry large uncomfortable 

 stones." 



" Well, thank Heaven, there it ends at last." 



" Wait a moment. Having reached this rock, a little 

 cairn serves as a mark for our course, and guides us to 

 the bare thin soil ; and when we are at that spot, why then 

 we shall see the top of the mountain. In fact, you must 

 have seen it yourself yesterday, if it was clear, which I 

 should doubt." 



" I certainly did see a great mountain all the way before 

 me, which blocked out the hills to the north and grew 

 bigger and bigger as I advanced, like a giant in a dream. 

 A thick mist clung around its summit, and I pitied the 

 poor eagles that were wheeling in the vapour. It made 

 me dream of precipices and vultures all night long. You 

 don't mean to say that we are to go there without a 

 balloon. Why, Chimborazo is a mole-hill to it?" 



" No, we shall not go to the very summit ; but you are 



