`` Ye were snoring . '' `` Well , '' said I , surprised at his anxious and dark face , `` and why not ? '' He peered over the edge of the rock , and signed to me to do the like . It was now high day , cloudless , and very hot . The valley was as clear as in a picture . About half a mile up the water was a camp of red-coats ; a big fire blazed in their midst , at which some were cooking ; and near by , on the top of a rock about as high as ours , there stood a sentry , with the sun sparkling on his arms . All the way down along the river-side were posted other sentries ; here near together , there widelier scattered ; some planted like the first , on places of command , some on the ground level and marching and counter-marching , so as to meet half-way . Higher up the glen , where the ground was more open , the chain of posts was continued by horse-soldiers , whom we could see in the distance riding to and fro . Lower down , the infantry continued ; but as the stream was suddenly swelled by the confluence of a considerable burn , they were more widely set , and only watched the fords and stepping-stones . I took but one look at them , and ducked again into my place . It was strange indeed to see this valley , which had lain so solitary in the hour of dawn , bristling with arms and dotted with the red coats and breeches . `` Ye see , '' said Alan , `` this was what I was afraid of , Davie : that they would watch the burn-side . They began to come in about two hours ago , and , man ! but ye 're a grand hand at the sleeping ! We 're in a narrow place . If they get up the sides of the hill , they could easy spy us with a glass ; but if they 'll only keep in the foot of the valley , we 'll do yet . The posts are thinner down the water ; and , come night , we 'll try our hand at getting by them . '' `` And what are we to do till night ? '' I asked . `` Lie here , '' says he , `` and birstle . ''
That one good Scotch word , `` XXXXX , '' was indeed the most of the story of the day that we had now to pass .
Alan Davie birstle burn burn-side confluence counter-marching fire fro horse-soldiers