"
As he ended speaking, he rose; and taking Helen by the hand, led her
into an inner excavation of the rock, where a bed of dried leaves lay
on the ground. "Here, gentle lady," said he, "I leave you to repose.
In the evening I expect a lay brother from St. Oran's Monastery, and he
will be your messenger to the friends you may wish to rejoin. At
present, may gentlest seraphs guard your slumbers!"
Helen, fatigued in spirit and in body, thanked the good hermit for his
care; and bowing to his blessing, he left her to repose.
Chapter XVIII.
Cartlane Craigs, and Glenfinlass.
Guided by Ker, Murray led his followers over the Lanark Hills, by the
most untrodden paths; and hence avoided even the sight of a Southron
soldier.
Cheered by so favourable a commencement of their expedition, they even
felt no dismay when, in the gloom of the evening, Ker descried a body
of armed men at a distance, sitting round a fire at the foot of a
beetling rock which guards the western entrance to the Cartlane Craigs.
Murray ordered his men to proceed under covert of the bushes; and then
making the signal (concerted in case of such dilemma), they stuck their
iron crows into the interstices of the cliff, and catching at the
branches which grew out of its precipitous side, with much exertion,
but in perfect silence, at last gained the summit.
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