THUNDER STORM. 19 



and, as it grew dusk, we left the shepherd in charge of 

 the two slain, with directions to get them conveyed to 

 the laird's, his own cottage, and half-a-dozen, able 

 sons ready to aid in the task, being hard at hand ; and 

 ourselves, with Donald, started for a brisk walk of 

 some five miles to the cottage where we were to pass 

 the night, and where Sandy was to have some hot toddy 

 and eatables ready for our arrival. 



Tired though we were, our walk was a most enjoy- 

 able one. The evening was most lovely ; though 

 intensely hot in the low-ground, an agreeable breeze 

 played about the uplands. As the sun set, however, a 

 few clouds made their appearance, gradually increasing 

 and thickening ; the whole heavens were coloured with 

 the richest variety of sunset hues. The west was in a 

 perfect blaze, and everything assumed a ruddy tinge. 

 Presently, however, we saw that the clouds grew darker 

 and more threatening, and a most extraordinary lurid 

 glare was cast on everything. The whole effect was 

 such as I had never before witnessed, and grand in the 

 extreme. It was now evident that a fearful storm was 

 impending, and the thunder, at first distant and indis- 

 tinct, rapidly drew nearer ; and, as it rolled from hill 

 to hill, and was echoed from side to side in each 

 valley and ravine, the roar was completely overwhelm- 

 ing, and utterly beyond the power of language to 

 depict. 



We reached the cottage just as the first heavy drops 

 were falling ; and now succeeded one of the most fear- 

 ful storms I ever beheld. The flashes of lightning, as 

 they played about the mountain-sides, lit up each gully 

 and ravine, and seemed to disclose each fissure in the 

 face of every crag, while ever and anon deafening roars 

 peeled forth, as though some huge mountain had fallen, 



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