254 DESOLATE SITUATION. 



cake and whiskey with them, passed the night without 

 any very serious inconvenience. 



The dawn brought no alleviation to their anxiety ; 

 the winds howled, and the snow fell, so that no outline of 

 mountain or landmark could be seen. It was now no longer 

 a question of killing deer, but of saving their lives. The 

 wind, which continued north, was their only guide ; and 

 by turning their backs upon it, they avoided the brunt of 

 the storm, and had hopes of reaching Glen Tilt or the 

 strath of the Tay. The snow had drifted in such masses, 

 that they were unable to pursue any decided line, and it 

 was so deep in all places where the wind had not acted 

 upon it, that their advance was very slow and laborious. 



The small stock of provisions which they took out with 

 them was exhausted; the wind got more into the east a 

 change they were not aware of so that in turning their 

 backs upon it, they travelled towards the west instead of 

 towards the south, as they fancied they were doing. 



At length, when night was setting in, they saw a deep 

 and unknown glen of joyless aspect before them; they 

 descended into it, to avoid the bleak winds of the summits, 

 and had proposed to put up a few stones and turfs for 

 shelter during the dark hours. Whilst they were looking 

 for a convenient spot, to their great relief they discovered 

 a shieling, deserted, as they imagined, as buildings in such 

 remote places usually are in the winter. What, then, 

 was their surprise, when, upon approaching the door, it 

 was at once opened, even without their knocking? A 

 woman presented herself, of a wild and haggard aspect; 

 told them she had been expecting them, and that their 

 supper and beds were ready. Even so they found it the 



