MOSSES. 27 



without thought, into the morass, which instantly closed 

 upon them. Ah ! well-a- day ! there were breaking hearts 

 in many a cottage among the hills, ay, in castles too ! 

 They were fine men to look upon, that troop of highlanders ! 

 dressed and armed according to the fashion of their country, 

 and well mounted ; but the horses seemed panic-struck as 

 well as their riders, and in they went ! Scarcely ten years 

 since, some of the neighbouring peat-cutters found the 

 skeletons of a man and horse, in complete armour; the 

 flesh was gone, but the armour remained entire, and doubt- 

 less, if they had sought further, they might have found the 

 troop mounted like living men ; but, a few yards onward, 

 the moss was unsound and wet, and they would not 

 venture." 



Listen to the voice of chemistry, and she will explain 

 from whence originates the preserving quality. She will 

 tell you that it results from carbonic and gallic acids, which 

 issue from decayed wood, as also from the presence of 

 charred wood, into which, by a strange alchemy, many 



