Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/301

Rh uncommoness of the scene, ordered the men to walk one by one down the zig-zag; and the baggage and women to bring up the rear on horseback. What an extraordinary appearance in such a desert! To see a military moving zig-zag of almost two miles; their arms glittering in the summer sun beams, shining full upon them, and their officers at the bottom admiring the sight. I had not the pleasure of seeing a living being there, except the men and horses with the chaise, slowly creeping down the curious ridge: but in my mind's eye, I saw the Major's troops; I beheld their arms glitter; the women mounted, bringing up the rear; and he himself by my side, in raptures at the effect of their plan.

The whole of the way from Garvimore to Dalwhinie is particularly wild; but to my taste, far from ugly, as long as the road keeps by Spey side; but when it turns from that sweet river, nothing is seen but bare mountains, and walls of stone for enclosures, yet I was amused; my mind found wonders to contemplate; for those bare mountains, most of them being full of metals, when the sun-beams gild their huge sides, sparkle like gems; and from the walls on the road side, when I walked up the steep places, I picked