"Have ye brought me the brandy, and any news of my people?"
"There's the bottle for ye. Your people—dispersed—broken—gone—or cut to ribbands by the red-coats."
"Der Deyvil!—this coast is fatal to me."
"Ye may hae mair reason to say sae."
While this dialogue went forward, Bertram and Dinmont had both gained the interior of the cave, and assumed an erect position. The only light which illuminated its rugged and sable precincts was a quantity of wood burned to charcoal in an iron grate, such as they use in spearing salmon by night. On these red embers Hatteraick from time to time threw a handful of twigs or splintered wood; but these, even when they blazed up, afforded a light much disproportioned to the extent of the cavern; and, as its principal inhabitant lay upon the side of the grate most remote from the entrance, it was not easy for him
