Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/297

Rh mind was raised to a state of awe and seriousness, that led to the great Creator of all; and I almost forgot I belonged to this world, till the postillion reminded me it was time to re-enter the carriage. When I came to the beginning of the zig-zag, the sun began to shine; and to the southwest, above the rest of the mountain ocean's waves, I saw Ben Nivis, which I distinguished from the other mountains; it being rendered conspicuous by the sun shining upon its white patches of snow. At the commencement of the zig-zag I got out of the carriage, and walked down at my leisure; amusing myself by picking up curious stones and pebbles in the channels made by the torrents, which cross the road at every five or ten yards. Round the base of the mountain, at some distance from the zig-zag, is a stream, into which the other torrents dash; leaving behind them, broad channels of smooth round stones, washed from the higher parts. The road is so cut up by these violent torrents, from the top of the zig-zag to the entrance on the plain, that for four or five miles, scarcely ten yards can be found free of them; which is, indeed, sufficient to pull a slight carriage to pieces.—Allen led the horses, and the wheels being dragged, he came quietly and safely