Summer at the Lake of Monteith

Life of Rob Roy. 91
yawning glens; above him towered the rocks, as, like
naked skeletons, they hung in shattered masses over his
unhappy head; beneath him roared the waterfall, as it
foamed over its rocky bed; behind him the sun was fast
sinking below the western horizon; before him he saw the
shades of evening gathering around the hill-tops of the
Trossachs, and on either side the mist began to wade
among the stinted hazel, and to linger on the bosom of
Loch-Auchray; while here and there a twinkling star could
be seen high up in the heavens, telling plainly that night
had already began " to tread the heels o' day." Alone,
in a wild and lawless country, with foes on every side,
Graham now began to reflect on his sad position. He
had shown but little mercy himself; and now he could
look for none. In front strode Rob Roy, the sworn
enemy of his master; on either side were his trusty re-
tainers, with drawn dirks; while at his back was Allister, with
a naked sword. Graham felt that his life hung by a single
thread. One word of Rob could set him at liberty — another
send his carcase to feed the eagles; and the bewildered
chamberlain knew not but the first rock might be his block,
or the first tree his gibbet. Rob Roy strode onwards
before his captive in sullen silence; and, reaching Loch-
Katrine, Macgregor, in a voice that echoed far across the
loch, sending the wild drakes quacking from the reedy
inlet, ordered Graham into a boat, and his men to pull
him to the island. The men pulled away through the deep
waters of Loch-Katrine, Graham knew not whither.
Around him in the boat were his sullen captors. Silent
also sat the captive, as he gazed out on the ruffled waters,