A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE 9 
was. now six o’clock, and I was certain of being 
benighted, but I had promised to be at the source 
of the Dee by noon of next day, and all the 
dragons of darkness could not have prevented me 
from at least striving to fulfil my engagement. 
They had never heard of the spring in question, 
nor even of the river; no Cairngorm could be 
seen, and a woman just arrived from the Spey 
informed me that X should be under the necessity 
of going through Badenoch before I could get to 
it. X placed more confidence in my travelling map. 
All, however,, shook their heads when I disclosed 
my plan, which was to proceed eastward, cross a 
stream, get to the summit of a ridge of mountains, 
and so forth, until I should reach the first burn of 
the . Dee, where I expected to find my friend 
Craigie. It was sunset when I got to the top of 
the first hill, whence I struck directly east, judging 
by the place where the sun disappeared behind 
the rugged and desolate mountains. After travers¬ 
ing a mile of boggy heath, I found myself put out 
of my course by a long, deep, rocky valley or 
ravine which I was obliged to double, and before 
I had acccomplished this night fell. I travelled on, 
however, about two miles farther, and coming upon 
another but smaller valley, in which I was appre¬ 
hensive of breaking my neck if I should venture 
through it, I sat down by a rock, weary, and 
covered with perspiration. Rest is pleasant, even 
in such a place as this; and when X had experi¬ 
enced a little of its sweets, I resolved to take up 
my abode there for the night. So, thrusting my 
stick into the peat between me and the ravine 
below, I extended myself on the ground and 
presently fell into a reverie, reviewed my life, gave 
vent to the sorrow of my soul in a thousand 
reflections on the folly of my conduct, and ended 
with resolving to amend! Around me were the 
