EXCURSION TO MONTSERllAT. 275 



they had retreated on the first feeling of 

 the sharp air. I hallooed most lustily, and 

 was answered by one of the party. I di- 

 rected my steps towards them, and found 

 they had descended from the top of the 

 mount to the eastward, about fifty yards, 

 and were seated round a well, or small re- 

 servoir, of fine spring-water, surrounded 

 with thick and rich brushwood, which 

 here and there grows in spots protected 

 from the cold mountain winds. The change 

 of temperature was astonishing; I should 

 say twenty degrees at least, but I had no 

 thermometer with me: thus, from being 

 nearly frozen on the summit, here, at only 

 fifty yards distance from that spot, I was 

 almost too warm; and sitting down under 

 the shade of a bush, I quaffed the cool 

 water from the spring. 



Hunger by this time hinted that the 

 dinner-hour must be near, and we accord- 



