They soon quitted the little valley, and involved themselves among hills as steep as they could be without being precipitous.

The sides often presented gullies, down which, in the winter season, or after heavy rain, the torrents descended with great fury.

Some dappled mists still floated along the peaks of the hills, the remains of the morning clouds, for the frost had broken up with a smart shower.

Through these fleecy screens were seen a hundred little temporary streamlets, or rills, descending the sides of the mountains like silver threads.

By small sheep-tracks along these steeps, over which Dinmont trotted with the most fearless confidence, they at length drew near the scene of sport, and began to see other men, both on horse and foot, making toward the place of rendezvous.