Just as John had finished his ballad, they turned out of the main road, up
a narrow path, into the glen. On their right hand a small clear brook, or,
as it is called in Scotland, a _burn_, ran down among the brush-wood; now
hid from view, now showing its white foam, bursting over the stones which
obstructed its passage. The walk from this till our little party reached
David's cottage was extremely beautiful, amongst natural woods, varied
hills, and bold rocks, over which the burn kept continually pouring, with
a loud but pleasing noise. A wooden bridge, which might, indeed, more
properly be called a plank, was thrown across the burn at the narrowest
part, and rested upon the rock on each side, a little above which stood
the remains of an old watch-tower. Altogether the scene was so beautiful,
that, whilst Helen dismounted, and John endeavoured to coax Bob across the
bridge, Mr. Martin took out his sketch-book and made a drawing of it.

When they had crossed to the other side, the road took a winding turn
amongst the hills; and their minds were so impressed with the grandeur of
the scenery, that, from the time they quitted the bridge, they ceased
speaking; only pointing out to each other, as they advanced, any new
beauty that suddenly presented itself. The cottage was built about half a
mile above the bridge, on a shelving bank, which they could only reach by
ascending a little path with steps cut in the rock. At the bottom of these
rude stairs Mr. Martin desired John to fasten Bob to the stump of an old
tree, which grew conveniently near it. When they reached the top of this
ascent, they found a small clay-built hut, thatched with furze, erected
close under the shelter of an immense rock, which hung with frowning
grandeur over it, and seemed to threaten to crush it and its inhabitants
to pieces. About a hundred square yards of ground were cleared from the
surrounding brushwood, part of which David had cultivated, as a little
garden, and had planted it with vegetables, as an assistance in the