The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-03-24

The gillie put us across Loeb Ran
noch in the dusk of the next day, and
gave us his opinion as to our best route.
This was to get us up at once into the
tops of the mountains; to go round by a
circuit, turning to the heads Of Glen
Lyon, Glen LocAay and Glen Dochart,
and come down upon the lowlands by
Kippen and the upper waters of the
Forth. Alan was little pleased with u
route which led us through the country of
his blood foes, the Glenorchy Campbells.
But the gillie, who was indeed the chief
man of Clunys scouts, had good reasons
to give him on all hands, namingthe
force of troops in every district, and al
leging finally Gas well as l could under
stand) that we should nowhere be so
little troubled as in a country of the
Campbells.
Alan gave way at last, but with only
half heart. "It's one of the dowiest
countries in Scotland, said he. "There's
naething there that 1 ken but heath
and crows and Campbells. But see
that ye're man of some penetration,
and be it as ye please!'
We set forth accordingly by this itin-
erary, and for the best part of three
nights travelled on eerie mountains and
among the well heads of wild rivers,
often buried in mist, almost continually
blown and rained upon, and not once
cheered by any glimpse of sunshine.
By day we lay and slept in the drench-
ing heather; by night, necessarily clam
rude crags. We often wandered; we
were often so involved in fog that we
must lie quiet till it lightened. A fire
was never to be thought of. Our only
food was drammach and portion of
cold meat that we had carried from the
Cage; and as for drink, heaven knows
we had no want of water.
During all these horrid wanderings
we had no familiarity, scarcely even
that of speech. The truth is that was
sickening for my grave, which is my
best excuse. But besides that l was of
an unforgiving disposition from my
birth, slow to take offense, slower to
forget it, and now incansed both against
my companion and myself. For the
best part of two days he was unwearied-
ly kind, silent indeed, but always ready
to help, and always hoping Gas l could
very well see) that my displeasure would
blow by. For the same length of time
l staid in myself, nursing my anger,
roughly refusing his services, and pass
ing him over with my eyes as if he had
been bush or a stone.
The second night, or rather the peep
of the third day, found us upon a very
open hill, so that we could not follow
our usual plan and lie down immediate
ly to eat and sleep. Before we had
reached place of shelter the gray had
come pretty clear, for though it still
rained, the clouds ran higher, and Alan,
looking in my face, showed some marks
of concern.
"Ye had better let me take your pack"
said he for perhaps the ninth time since
we parted from the scout beside Loeb
Rannoch.
II do very well, l thank you," said l
as cold as ice.
Alan flushed darkly. I'll not offer it
again" he said' I'm not patienG man,
David"
81 never said you were," said I, which
was exactly the rude, silly speech of u
boy of ten.
Alan made no answer at the time, but
his conduct answered for him. Hence
IorUn, IL Is TO DE UnouSnC, ne QulCe Ior-
gave himself for the affair at Cluny's,
cooked his hat again, walked jauntily,
whistled airs and looked at me upon one
side with a provoking smile.
The third night we were to pass
through the western end of the country
of Balquidder. 1t came clear and cold,
with touch in the air like frost and a
northerly wind that blew the clouds
away and made the stars bright. The
streams were full of course, and still
made great noise among the hills, but
upon the Kelpie and was in high good
spirits. AS for me the change of weather
came too late; had lain in the mire so
long that Gas the Bible has it) my very
clothes "abhorred me-" L was dead
weary, deadly sick and full of pains and
shiverings; the chill of the wind went
through me, and the sound of it con-
fused my ears. In this poor state had
to bear from my companion something
in the nature of persecution. He
spoke a good deal and never without q
taunt. "Whig" was the best name he
had to give me-. "Here," he would say,
"here's dub for we to jump, my Whig-
gle. ken you're fine jumper!" And
so on, all the time with a gliding voice
and face.
All the while 1 was growing worse
and worse. Once had fallen, my legs
simply doubling under me, and this had
struck Alan for the moment, but was
afoot so briskly and set off again with
such natural manner that he soon for
got the incident. Flushes of heat went
over me and then spasms of shuddering.
The stitch in my side was hardly bear
able. At last began to feel that could
trail myself no farther, and with that
there came on me all at once the wish
to have it out with Alan, let my anger
blaze and be done with my life in more
sudden manner. He had just called me
"Whig." l stopped.
"Mr. Stewart" said in voice that
u11iuara6 lilo a f6d1a cfyinO ssyni1 ara