160 THE MIST CLEARS GLORIOUSLY. 



The everlasting mist still rolls on,, and although slightly 

 ascending at times, it gives a glimpse of the dripping heather, 

 yet another and another volume drives along, each pressing 

 on like the waves of a troubled sea. But behold a broad 

 white light expanding in the heavens. It is the path of 

 the glorious sun wading in the dim expanse, and struggling 

 with the vapour. Now it fades away, and hope dies with 

 it: dark dark dark. Oh that some blast would sweep 

 across the moor, and drive these lazy volumes to the de- 

 solate shores of the ultima Thule! 



" But it will clear ! I see it is clearing. Mark how the 

 mist is gathering together, and forming in more compact 

 masses. Now it begins to rise ; how beautifully it climbs 

 the silvery heights of Ben-y-venie ! See how it courses 

 before the sun, and how blue it is getting to the leeward ! 



" Shake the dew drops from your flanks, Peter ; we 

 shall start in ten minutes." 



" Will you please to tak a glass of whiskey ? " 



" Will I ? you shall see. Out with your bottle, my 

 good fellow : but I do you wrong, for I see it has been 

 constantly in your hands. I only hope that it has a better 

 smack with it than the mountain dew we have been in- 

 haling for the last three hours. There, pass it round with 

 wishes for success, and do not ( spill the good creature,' 

 for in such a morning as this, believe me, it is most salu- 

 brious ; manifold indeed are its virtues. What trade does 

 it not quicken ? It is a good carpenter, a good mason, a 

 good road-maker, and a most capital deer-driver, provided 

 it be moderately and discreetly dealt with, just as you deal 

 with it, gentlemen." 



" It is all this, sure eneuch ; and I have often thought, 



