As for himself -LRB- and you are to bear in mind that he was cumbered with a great-coat -RRB- he had first turned crimson , but as time went on the redness began to be mingled with patches of white ; his breath cried and whistled as it came ; and his voice , when he whispered his observations in my ear during our halts , sounded like nothing human . Yet he seemed in no way dashed in spirits , nor did he at all abate in his activity , so that I was driven to marvel at the man 's endurance . At length , in the first gloaming of the night , we heard a trumpet sound , and looking back from among the heather , saw the troop beginning to collect . A little after , they had built a fire and camped for the night , about the middle of the waste . At this I begged and besought that we might lie down and sleep . `` There shall be no sleep the night ! '' said Alan . `` From now on , these weary dragoons of yours will keep the crown of the muirland , and none will get out of Appin but winged fowls . We got through in the nick of time , and shall we jeopard what we 've gained ? Na , na , when the day comes , it shall find you and me in a fast place on Ben Alder . '' `` Alan , '' I said , `` it 's not the want of will : it 's the strength that I want . If I could , I would ; but as sure as I 'm alive I can not . '' `` Very well , then , '' said Alan . `` I 'll carry ye . '' I looked to see if he were jesting ; but no , the little man was in dead earnest ; and the sight of so much resolution shamed me . `` Lead away ! '' said I. `` I 'll follow . '' He gave me one look as much as to say , `` Well done , David ! '' and off he set again at his top speed . It grew cooler and even a little darker -LRB- but not much -RRB- with the coming of the night .
The sky was cloudless ; it was still early in July , and pretty far north ; in the darkest part of that XXXXX , you would have needed pretty good eyes to read , but for all that , I have often seen it darker in a winter mid-day .
Appin David Na besought dragoons first fowls gloaming night redness