ong the trees was fresh and might be
followed. Wat was determined at all costs to turn the witch; and, having
brought her to her house, to keep a watch upon her there--at least till
the rain had washed away our foot-prints down the mountain side, and
confused them among the moss-hags.

So leaving most unwillingly the snug and sheltered place of Cove
Macaterick, we stepped out into the gloomy and threatening night. The
wild-fire still flickered, and the thunder rolled continuously; but the
rain held off. The natural had mentioned that his mother was making over
the hills toward Straiton, where for the time being Mardrochat, the
informer, dwelt, and where was quartered a troop of horse for the
overawing of the country.

We decided, therefore, that we should take our course in that direction,
which led past Peden's hut, where the wanderer had abode so often. It
was an uncanny night, but in some fashion we stumbled along--now falling
into moss-hags almost to the waist, and now scrambling out again, and so
on without a word of complaining. Wat's attire was not now such as that
he had donned to visit my Lady Wellwood. It was but of stout hodden grey
and a checked plaid like the rest.

So we mounted shoulder after shoulder of heathery hillside, like vessels
that labour over endless billows of the sea against a head wind. The
thunder cloud which seemed to brood upon the outer circle of the hills,
and arch over the country of Macaterick and the Star, now grumbled
nearer and louder. Not seldom there came a fierce, white, wimpling
flash, and the encompassing mountains seemed ready to burn up in the
glare. Then ensued darkness blacker than ever, and the thunder shaking
the world, as though it had been an ill-builded house-place with
skillets and pans clattering on the wall.

We had been thus walking for some while, bearing breast to the brae all
the time, and leaning forward even as a horse leans to its collar. We
came in time near to the height of the pass. We could not see a yard
before us. But suddenly we felt the ground begin to level in front; and
lo! in a moment we were in the throat of the defile, with the hills
black above us on either side. Suddenly there came a terrible white
flash of lightning, brighter and longer continued than any we had seen.
The very air seemed to grow blue-black like indigo. The thunder tore the
heavens, galloping without ceasing. Flash followed rending flash.
Immediately before us on a hillock