He had not proceeded far, until high cliffs began to rear themselves over his head, whilst, from his very feet, perpendicular precipices shot down into the deep night that prevailed below. The goat or deer track that he followed became every moment more and more blocked up with stony fragments, until at length it offered one continuous series of dangerous steps, requiring his utmost care and attention to preserve him from a slip or fall that might have been fatal. Whilst he was thus proceeding, with his whole attention occupied in self-preservation, he was suddenly challenged in Gaelic by a rough voice in his front. "Who comes there?" "A friend," replied Inverawe, in the same language in which he was addressed. "I am not sure of that," said the same voice hoarsely and bitterly. "Is he alone?" "He is alone," said a voice a little way behind Inverawe; "We are quite safe." "Come on then, sir," said the voice in front, "you have nothing to fear." "Fear!" cried Inverawe, in a tone which implied that any such feeling had ever been a stranger to him; "I fear nothing." "I know you to be a brave man, Inverawe!" said the man who now appeared in front of him. "Come on then without apprehension. You need not put your hand into the guard of your claymore, for no one here will harm you. But what strange chance has brought you here?" "The loss of my way," replied Inverawe. "But how do you come to know me so well?" "It is no matter how I know you," replied the other. "It is sufficient that I do know you, and know you to be a brave man, to whom, as such, I am prepared to do what kindness I can. What are your wants then, and what can I do for you?" "My wants are, simply to find my lost way, and then to procure some food, of which I stand much in need," replied Inverawe. "Be at ease then, for I shall help you to both," replied the person with whom he was conversing; "but methinks your last want requires to be first attended to, as the most urgent; so follow me, and look sharply to your footing." Then, speaking in a louder tone to some individuals, who, though unseen, were posted somewhere in the obscurity to the rear of Inverawe, he said, "Look well to your post, lads, I shall be with you by and bye." And then again turning to Inverawe, he added--"Come on, sir, you must climb up this way; the ascent is steep, and you will require to use hands as well as feet. Goats were wont to be the only travellers here, and even they must have been hardy ones. But troublous times will often people the desert cliffs themselves with human beings, and scare the very eagle from her aerie, that she may yield her lodging to weary man."