Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/259

Rh with rain; I never saw harder. My only consolation in such a deluge was the idea of the perfection in which I should see the Fall of Fyres; but how to get at it was the question, without being drowned? As I sat in the chaise, I saw a gentleman wrapped in a plaid, with a guide, penetrating the wood through which the road leads to the fall. In about three quarters of an hour he came back dripping wet. In such sequestered regions ceremony sleeps, and the heart expands to any thing and every thing like humanity; I therefore intreated the dripping stranger to take a comforting drop from my bottle of rum, to keep off the danger of his drenching. When he came near, I found he was one of the officers from Fort George, who had rode from thence to see this famous fall. I was happy in an opportunity, even though so trifling, to shew I was sensible of the civilities I met with at the fort: and I hope my spirits prevented the gentleman from getting cold, of which he ran great risk, as I saw him, immediately after I spoke to him, canter away without changing his Highland waistcoat. After waiting till the horses were ready to proceed, I walked to the fall, leaving the carriage to follow me. At that time the rain had ceased; but the ground