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           ThatnightwestruckAllanWater,andfolloweditdown;andcomingtotheedgeofthehillssawthewholeCarseofStirlingunderfoot,asflatasapancake,withthetownandcastleonahillinthemidstofit,andthemoonshiningontheLinksofForth.

           “Now,”saidAlan,“Ikennaifyecare,butye’reinyourownlandagain.WepassedtheHielandLineinthefirsthour;andnowifwecouldbutpassyoncrookedwater,wemightcastourbonnetsintheair.”

           InAllanWater,nearbywhereitfallsintotheForth,wefoundalittlesandyislet,overgrownwithburdock,butterburandthelikelowplants,thatwouldjustcoverusifwelayflat.Hereitwaswemadeourcamp,withinplainviewofStirlingCastle,whencewecouldhearthedrumsbeatassomepartofthegarrisonparaded.Shearersworkedalldayinafieldononesideoftheriver,andwecouldhearthestonesgoingonthehooksandthevoicesandeventhewordsofthementalking.Itbehovedtoliecloseandkeepsilent.Butthesandofthelittleislewassun-warm,thegreenplantsgaveusshelterforourheads,wehadfoodanddrinkinplenty;andtocrownall,wewerewithinsightofsafety.

           Assoonastheshearersquittheirworkandtheduskbegantofall,wewadedashoreandstruckfortheBridgeofStirling,keepingtothefieldsandunderthefieldfences.