Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 1 - 1819.djvu/254

244 brown, began now, by one or two distant peals, to announce the thunders with which it was fraught; while two flashes of lightning, following each other very closely, shewed in the distance the grey turrets of Wolf's Crag, and, more nearly, the rolling billows of the sea, crested suddenly with red and dazzling light.

The horse of the fair huntress shewed symptoms of impatience and restiveness, and it became impossible for Ravenswood, as a man or a gentleman, to leave her abruptly to the care of an aged father or her menial attendants. He was, or believed himself, obliged in courtesy to take hold of her bridle, and assist her in managing the unruly animal. While he was thus engaged, the old gentleman observed that the storm seemed to increase—that they were far from Lord Bittlebrain's, whose guests they were for the present—and that he would be obliged to the Master of Ravenswood to point him the way to the nearest place of refuge