Chapter 20

           Sometimeswewalked,sometimesran;andasitdrewontomorning,walkedeverthelessandranthemore.Though,uponitsface,thatcountryappearedtobeadesert,yettherewerehutsandhousesofthepeople,ofwhichwemusthavepassedmorethantwenty,hiddeninquietplacesofthehills.Whenwecametooneofthese,Alanwouldleavemeintheway,andgohimselfandrapuponthesideofthehouseandspeakawhileatthewindowwithsomesleeperawakened.Thiswastopassthenews;which,inthatcountry,wassomuchofadutythatAlanmustpausetoattendtoitevenwhilefleeingforhislife;andsowellattendedtobyothers,thatinmorethanhalfofthehouseswherewecalledtheyhadheardalreadyofthemurder.Intheothers,aswellasIcouldmakeout(standingbackatadistanceandhearingastrangetongue),thenewswasreceivedwithmoreofconsternationthansurprise.

           Forallourhurry,daybegantocomeinwhilewewerestillfarfromanyshelter.Itfoundusinaprodigiousvalley,strewnwithrocksandwhereranafoamingriver.Wildmountainsstoodaroundit;theregrewthereneithergrassnortrees;andIhavesometimesthoughtsincethen,thatitmayhavebeenthevalleycalledGlencoe,wherethemassacrewasinthetimeofKingWilliam.Butforthedetailsofouritinerary,Iamalltoseek;ourwaylyingnowbyshortcuts,nowbygreatdetours;ourpacebeingsohurried,ourtimeofjourneyingusuallybynight;andthenamesofsuchplacesasIaskedandheardbeingintheGaelictongueandthemoreeasilyforgotten.