Violet Jacob > Flemington

CHAPTER XXVI
THE VANISHING BIRD
The houses of Brechin climb from the river
up the slope, and a little camp was spread upon
the crest of ground above them, looking down
over the uneven pattern of walls, the rising
smoke, and the woods that cradled the Esk.
Such of Cumberland’s soldiery as had collected
in Angus was drawn together here, and as the
country was settling down, the camp was in¬
creased by detachments of horse and foot that
arrived daily from various directions. The Muir
of Pert was bare, left to the company of the roe¬
deer and the birds, for James had been traced to
the coast, and the hungry North Sea had swallowed
his tracks.
The spot occupied by the tents of Callandar’s
troop was in the highest corner of the camp, the
one farthest from the town, and the long northern
light that lingered over the hill enveloped the
camp sounds and sights in a still, greenish clear¬
ness. There would be a bare few hours of dark¬
ness.
Callandar was now in command of a small force
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