count of these visitations. It was natural to suppose, and could easily be inferred from the narrative of Mrs Maclure, that disappointed ambition, wrecked hopes, and the downfall of the party which he had served with such desperate fidelity, were: likely to aggravate enthusiasm into temporary insanity. It was, indeed, no uncommon circumstance in these singular, times, that men like Sir Harry Vane, Harrison, Overton, and others, themselves slaves to the wildest and most enthusiastic dreams,. could, when mingling with the world, conduct themselves not only with good sense: in difficulties, and courage in dangers, but. with the most acute sagacity and determined valour. The subsequent part of Mrs Maclure's information confirmed Morton in: these impressions.

"In the grey of the morning," she said, "my little Peggy sall shew. ye the gate to him before the sodgers are up. But ye maun let his hour of danger, as he ca's it, be ower, afore ye venture on him in his

i

place of refuge. Peggy will tell ye when to venture in. She kens his ways weel, for whiles she carries him some little helps that he canna do without to sustain life."

"And in what retreat then," said Morton, "has this unfortunate person found refuge ?"

woman,

"An awsome place," answered the blind as ever living creature took refuge in. They ca' it the Black Linn of Linklater—it's a doleful place; but he loves it abune a' others, because he has sae often been in safe hiding there, and it's my belief he prefers it to a tapestried chamber and a down bed. But ye'll see't. I hae seen it mysel mony a day syne. I was a daft hempie lassie then, and little thought what was to come o't. Wad ye chuse ony thing, sir, ere you betake your sel to your rest, for ye maun stir wi' the first dawn o' the grey light?"

"Nothing more, my good mother," said Morton, and they parted for the evening. Morton recommended himself to Hea

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ven, threw himself on his bed, heard, between sleeping and waking, the trampling of the dragoons horses at the riders' return from their patrole, and then slept soundly after such painful agitation.

CHAPTER XIV.

The darksome cave they enter, where they found
The accursed man, low sitting on the ground,
Musing full sadly in his sullen mind.

SPENSER.

As the morning began to appear on the mountains, a gentle knock was heard at the door of the humble apartment in which Morton slept, and a girlish treble voice asked him from without, "If he wad please gang to the Linn or the folk raise ?"

He arose upon the invitation, and, dressing himself hastily, went forth and joined his little guide. The mountain maid tript lightly before him, through the grey haze, over hill and moor. It was a wild and varied walk, unmarked by any regular or distinguishable track, and keeping, upon the whole, the direction of the ascent of the

brook, though without tracing its windings. The landscape, as they advanced, turned waster and more wild, until nothing but heath and rock encumbered the side of the valley.

"Is the place still distant ?" said Morton.

Nearly a mile off," answered the girl. "We'll be there belive,"

"And do you often go this wild journey, my little maid ?"

"When grannie sends me wi' milk and meal to the Linn," answered the child. "And are you not afraid to travel so wild a road alone?"

"Hout na, sir," replied the guide; "nae living creature wad touch sic a bit thing as I am, and grannie says we need never fear ony thing else when we are doing a gude turn."

Strong in innocence as in triple mail !" said Morton to himself, and followed her steps in silence.