UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION. 107 



Sandy did as he was desired, and a loud splashing was 

 almost immediately heard, like to the rising of a muckle 

 salmon, when he attempts to spring up the falls of the 

 Garry. 



" Sandy, man, I'm thinking ye've got intill the burn." 

 " It's nae burn ava', it's joost a deep pool. Ye mun keep 

 mair to the wast. Its fearfu' dark, and as sure as deid the 

 evil spirit is abraid, he couldna have harmed me in the 

 burn, for you ken he has nae power in rinnin water. I am 

 as weel acquent wi' this moss by day and by nicht as ony 

 man in Atholl, and never pool was there here afore." 



" In pool or ford can nane be smur'd, 

 Gin kelpie be nae there." 



To describe the toil of the party through these bogs, pits, 

 and moss hags, would be only to utter a repetition of the 

 game disasters. The darkness was so deep that the men 

 could not distinguish each other ; and although their foot- 

 steps fell cautiously, yet not one of the party escaped con- 

 tinual floundering ; the individual wrath and vexation was 

 at first at a pretty high pitch ; but with the exception of a 

 slight exclamation or so, it was most philosophically sup- 

 pressed. And when at length all were found to be in 

 similar perplexity, there was more merriment than anger. 

 Everything, however, whether sweet or bitter, has an end 

 and so at length had this their pilgrimage through the 

 Slough of Despond. 



As soon as they were fairly through, the blank moon, so 

 coy when she was courted, shone out for a brief moment, 

 and gave them a glimpse of a herd of deer just passing into 

 the shadow. And now they came down to a burn, which, 

 wet as they already were, they waded without hesitation. 

 Lightfoot alone was carefully carried over on Eraser's back, 

 for the channel was obstructed here and there by large 

 blocks of granite, which the constant attrition of the water 

 makes so slippery, that no unpractised person can step on 

 them with security ; and when he loses his footing (as lose 

 it he must), down at once he goes into the deep hole that 

 the current always excavates at their base. But the sinewy 

 and well-shod Highlander went firmly and safely through 

 with his burthen, the legs alone dangling in the water. 



