Untitled - Beeldbibliotheek

78 CARAVAN DAYSsafely come so far, shook his head ominously overthe road that lay before us on the morrow.Samand Simon, who deserved better treatment, werebedded in sand that evening, for this was still abarren land and we could not even muster hayor bracken. I need perhaps hardly remark thatit was bitterly cold.We had nothing so bad as BorgieBrae to faceon the Tuesday, but on the whole I think it wasthe heavier day of the two. Although we neverreached a higher level above the sea than 500 feetwe had to climb in all more than 1200 feet infourteen miles. Only twice, on the tops of thelast two ridges, had we any respite from the slipperand the roller, and then only for a mile in eachcase.The surface, however, was decidedly betterthan it had been on the day before, and when inthe evening we camped on the moor above Melvichwe knew that our troubles were over at lastand our goal was well within reach. It is to behoped that Sam and Simon had the wit to knowthat too that they had taken a good look at thecountry before them as they turned in at thestable door ;for they were thoroughly exhausted,and I should not like to think that they went tosleep in anticipation of another such day tofollow.