PLEASANT PROSPECT. 15 



the bell, and asked if the coachman and 

 guard were going on with the bags; and 

 was informed that they were just then 

 about to proceed on horseback. I asked 

 if I might accompany them, and was an- 

 swered in the affirmative; not without 

 some doubts as to the probability of my 

 doing so. I looked out the snow was 

 falling fast in large flakes; it was about 

 midnight, and our excursion through the 

 mountains of Cumberland, which I had 

 only heard of through the magnifying 

 qualities of the tourist, seemed anything 

 but pleasant ; nevertheless, I thought I 

 had been out in worse weather, and 

 there appeared no more dangers or dis- 

 agreeables for me than for the men. I 

 therefore gave instructions for my port- 

 manteau, and a small, hamper of genuine 

 mountain-dew, which the host at Edin- 

 burgh had kindly procured for me, to 

 be forwarded as soon as the road was 



