R M Ballantyne

Hunted and Harried R M Ballantyne

"Ay, sir, the Cluden rins jist ayont the turn o' the road there," replied the man. "Ye'll hear the roar o' the fa' in a meenit or twa." Even as he spoke the dull growl of a cataract was heard, and, a few minutes later, the party came upon the ford of the river. It was situated not many yards below the picturesque waterfall, which is now spanned by the Routen Bridge, but which, at that time, was unbridged-at all events, if a bridge had previously existed, it had fallen in or been carried away-and the wild gorge was impassable. The sound of the fall alone told of its vicinity, for a dense mass of foliage hid it completely from the troopers' view until they had surmounted the steep bank on the other side of the stream.