I cried , `` you were running fit to burst . '' `` Was I so ? '' said he . `` Well , then , ye may depend upon it , there was nae time to be lost . And now here is enough said ; gang you to your sleep , lad , and I 'll watch . '' Accordingly , I lay down to sleep ; a little peaty earth had drifted in between the top of the two rocks , and some bracken grew there , to be a bed to me ; the last thing I heard was still the crying of the eagles . I dare say it would be nine in the morning when I was roughly awakened , and found Alan 's hand pressed upon my mouth . `` Wheesht ! '' he whispered . `` 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 XXXXX , `` this was what I was afraid of , Davie : that they would watch the burn-side .
Alan burn confluence fire first fro horse-soldiers red-coats sentries stepping-stones