CH. XXVI. ROCKY GROUND. 105 



covered with these grey stones, looking as if they 

 had dropped in a shower from the clouds. They 

 ended abruptly near the foot of the hill, and formed 

 almost a straight line, as if some giant workman 

 had done his best to clear the remainder of the 

 slope, and had picked all the stones off that part, as 

 children do off a grass field. Upwards, towards the 

 top of the hill, they increased, if possible, in number, 

 and the summit appeared like one mass of rock. 

 Through all this desolation of stone there were 

 several strips of heather, or withered-looking grass, 

 not much wider, however, than footpaths. They 

 served as passes for any sheep and deer which 

 might fancy journeying through them. 



I reached my point of rendezvous, and sat down 

 to wait patiently for Donald, with my face turned 

 in the direction whence he was to arrive. I knew 

 that, unless detained by any quite unforeseen ac- 

 cident, he would arrive rather before than after 

 his time, as he was to bring me something in the 

 shape of luncheon ; the liquid part of which I was 

 confident he would not forget. 



I waited some time in this solitude, without 

 hearing or seeing any living creature to enliven the 

 dreary landscape before me, with the exception of 

 a pair of ravens who passed at no great height 

 above me, uttering their harsh croaks of ill omen as 



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