He heard the sound of men talking and drew rein; it was only a larger burn foaming by the wayside.
The sky was black above him, yet a faint grey light seemed to linger, for water glimmered and he passed what seemed to be the edge of a loch....

At another time the London-bred citizen would have been only peevish, for Heaven knew he had faced ill weather before in ill places.

But the fiery stuff he had swallowed had woke a feverish fancy.
Exaltation suddenly changed to foreboding.
He halted and listened.

Nothing but the noise of the weather, and the night dark around him like a shell.

For a moment he fancied he caught the sound of horses, but it was not repeated.