Burnside. 99 



for the gillies who have to keep the fire within bounds, for 

 it spreads with amazing rapidity, and by night the long 

 streams of flame and thick clouds of dense smoke rolling 

 along the mountain sides, now threatening to engulf almost 

 everything in ruin, anon being subdued by the vigilant 

 watchers, produce a remarkably weird and striking effect. 



The rapidity with which these fires spread has been 

 graphically pictured by Scott, who compares the speed of 

 Donald, the bearer of the fiery cross, to the " muirburn " 

 when he sings 



" Not faster o'er thy heathery braes 

 Balquither, speeds the midnight blaze " 



whilst the grandeur of the spectacle is equally well depicted 

 in the oft-quoted lines 



" How grand the scene yon russet down displays, 



Whilst far the withering heaths with moorburn blaze ; 



The pillared smoke ascends with ashen gleam ; 



Aloft in air the arching flashes stream ; 



With rusty, crackling noise the flames aspire, 



And roll one deluge of devouring fire ; 



The timid flocks shrink from the smoking heat, 



Their pasture leave and in confusion bleat, 



With curious look, the foaming billows scan, 



As whirling gales the red combustion fan." 



Is the heather useful, do you ask? Do you not remember 

 what Ellen told Fitz James ? 



" Before the heath had lost its dew 

 This morn, a couch was pulled for you 

 On yonder mountain's purple head." 



Really this pleasant green carpet, with its delicate pink 

 haze, looks exceedingly tempting, and yielding to its 

 fascination we slowly settle ourselves down to recline on it. 



