SCENERY OF GLEN TILT. 181 



The pass itself is barred in by the grim mountains that 

 leave their dun backs about it and send down many a 

 orrent from their riven ribs. A good road winds along 

 he braes, catching and losing the waters as it pierces the 

 rloom of the woods, or breaks forth into light and expanse, 

 ^icturesque bridges are thrown across the river, and every 

 hing has been done that consummate judgment could 

 iffect to temper the wild scene with beauty and conve- 

 rience ; to temper, but not to destroy it ; that indeed, if 

 Advisable, were almost beyond the power of man. Stern 

 ,nd indomitable as the wrath of Achilles, the Tilt ever 

 tolds its mood, and comes raging on, wheeling in eddies, 

 ushing in cataracts, or spreading into pools, bearing along 

 srith it at times huge fragments of rock that form uncouth 

 glands in its channel, upon which the stricken deer stands 

 lominant at bay; still ceaseless it races onward fretting 

 nd foaming, till at length its mad career is arrested in the 

 2ss turbulent waters of the Garry. 



After the storm this river speaks in a voice of thunder, 

 nd quells every noise around it ; but when the winds are 

 ushed, and the weather gleam streaks the sky from afar, 

 nd the rain drops glitter in the sunshine, some sylvan 

 ounds may occasionally be heard the solitary croak of 

 he raven's voice as he sits boding on the crags, the distant 

 ellow of the hart, or the scream of the eagle falling 

 lintly on the ear from the skies above. 



In a grey day the mountains around are stern and dark, 

 nd there is gloom all up the glen ; so that when the eye 

 ravels to the small opening at the distant gorge, you look 

 ut at the bright light of heaven as from the mouth of a 

 avern. 



N 3 



