Chapter 22

           Somesevenhours’incessant,hardtravellingbroughtusearlyinthemorningtotheendofarangeofmountains.Infrontofustherelayapieceoflow,broken,desertland,whichwemustnowcross.Thesunwasnotlongup,andshonestraightinoureyes;alittle,thinmistwentupfromthefaceofthemoorlandlikeasmoke;sothat(asAlansaid)theremighthavebeentwentysquadronofdragoonsthereandwenonethewiser.

           Wesatdown,therefore,inahoweofthehill-sidetillthemistshouldhaverisen,andmadeourselvesadishofdrammach,andheldacouncilofwar.

           “David,”saidAlan,“thisisthekittlebit.Shallwelieheretillitcomesnight,orshallweriskit,andstaveonahead?”

           “Well,”saidI,“Iamtiredindeed,butIcouldwalkasfaragain,ifthatwasall.”

           “Ay,butitisnae,”saidAlan,“noryetthehalf.Thisishowwestand:Appin’sfairdeathtous.Tothesouthit’sallCampbells,andnotobethoughtof.Tothenorth;well,there’snomuckletobegainedbygoingnorth;neitherforyou,thatwantstogettoQueensferry,noryetforme,thatwantstogettoFrance.Well,then,we’llcanstrikeeast.”

           “Eastbeit!”saysI,quitecheerily;butIwasthinkingintomyself:“O,man,ifyouwouldonlytakeonepointofthecompassandletmetakeanyother,itwouldbethebestforbothofus.”

           “Well,then,east,yesee,wehavethemuirs,”saidAlan.“Oncethere,David,it’smerepitch-and-toss.