Well , it was a sad sight to me ; and whether it was because of my thoughts of Alan , or from something prophetic in my bosom , although this was but the second time I had seen King George 's troops , I had no good will to them . At last we came so near the point of land at the entering in of Loch Leven that I begged to be set on shore . My boatman -LRB- who was an honest fellow and mindful of his promise to the catechist -RRB- would fain have carried me on to Balachulish ; but as this was to take me farther from my secret destination , I insisted , and was set on shore at last under the wood of Lettermore -LRB- or Lettervore , for I have heard it both ways -RRB- in Alan 's country of Appin . This was a wood of birches , growing on a steep , craggy side of a mountain that overhung the loch . It had many openings and ferny howes ; and a road or bridle track ran north and south through the midst of it , by the edge of which , where was a spring , I sat down to eat some oat-bread of Mr. Henderland 's and think upon my situation . Here I was not only troubled by a cloud of stinging midges , but far more by the doubts of my mind . What I ought to do , why I was going to join myself with an outlaw and a would-be murderer like Alan , whether I should not be acting more like a man of sense to tramp back to the south country direct , by my own guidance and at my own charges , and what Mr. Campbell or even Mr. Henderland would think of me if they should ever learn my folly and presumption : these were the doubts that now began to come in on me stronger than ever . As I was so sitting and thinking , a sound of men and horses came to me through the wood ; and presently after , at a turning of the road , I saw four travellers come into view . The way was in this part so rough and narrow that they came single and led their horses by the reins . The first was a great , red-headed gentleman , of an imperious and flushed face , who carried his hat in his hand and fanned himself , for he was in a breathing heat . The second , by his decent black garb and white wig , I correctly took to be a lawyer . The third was a servant , and wore some part of his clothes in tartan , which showed that his master was of a Highland family , and either an outlaw or else in singular good odour with the Government , since the wearing of tartan was against the Act . If I had been better versed in these things , I would have known the tartan to be of the Argyle -LRB- or Campbell -RRB- colours . This servant had a good-sized portmanteau strapped on his horse , and a net of lemons -LRB- to brew punch with -RRB- hanging at the saddle-bow ; as was often enough the custom with luxurious travellers in that part of the country . As for the fourth , who brought up the tail , I had seen his like before , and knew him at once to be a sheriff 's officer . I had no sooner seen these people coming than I made up my mind -LRB- for no reason that I can tell -RRB- to go through with my adventure ; and when the first came alongside of me , I rose up from the bracken and asked him the way to Aucharn . He stopped and looked at me , as I thought , a little oddly ; and then , turning to the lawyer , `` Mungo , '' said he , `` there 's many a man would think this more of a warning than two pyats . Here am I on my road to Duror on the job ye ken ; and here is a young lad starts up out of the bracken , and speers if I am on the way to Aucharn . '' `` Glenure , '' said the other , `` this is an ill subject for jesting . '' These two had now drawn close up and were gazing at me , while the two followers had halted about a stone-cast in the rear .
`` And what seek ye in XXXXX ? ''
Appin Aucharn Duror Mungo fourth howes midges second speers stone-cast