A SCOTCH MIST. 157 



awkward. There now, don't pull them along in that 

 manner ; they will be weary before they get half way up 

 the mountain. Jamieson, I dare say you have left the 

 water-pooof rifle-cases at home." 



" No, I have them all with me." 



" Well, I did you wrong to suppose so, for I never 

 knew you to forget any thing of consequence." 



"What the de'il maks the maister so crabbed the day?" 



"Crabbed, aye, and reason eneuch. The mists are 

 rising heavier and heavier in the haugh ; and though Ben 

 Derig shimmers now, won't he be all mirk afore we can 

 win forrat to our cast ? " 



And scarcely had they gained this destined point, be- 

 fore a great volume of mist came sailing over the lower 

 grounds, and jostled against the huge shoulder of Ben-y- 

 chait : then, breaking and spreading widely abroad, all 

 around at once became dim and dubious. This was the 

 beginning of the evil ; but worse remained behind. Cloud 

 after cloud came driving along, till the whole face of 

 nature, mountain, rock, and glen, was smothered in the 

 reeking vapour. 



Scarcely may you discern your neighbour sitting upon 

 the dripping heather beside you. These clouds of mist 

 are sure to last some hours, or may continue the whole 

 morning, and finally terminate in a deluge of everlasting 

 rain. Sometimes, indeed, they would clear away pretty 

 suddenly, but more often would they rise gradually. 

 None but those who know the joys of deer-stalking can 

 tell with what an intent gaze the rifleman's eyes were 

 fixed upon the space below him. At times the heather 

 there grew evidently clearer ; then it was distinctly seen, 



