Eventually both men with no small toil made their way to the kitchen,
where they found master and maids already assembled, and in a state of
no little alarm.
Their first concern was manifestly the safety of the sheep. But at such
an hour, in such a night, what could be done? Nevertheless, two hours
before daylight shepherds and master started for the hill, taking first
the precaution to _sew_ their plaids round them, and to tie on their
bonnets. For the thrilling details of the dangerous undertaking one must
refer to Hogg's own account, but it may here be noted that no sooner was
the kitchen door closed on the men than they lost each other, and lost
also all sense of direction; it was only by the sound of their voices
that the little party succeeded in keeping in each other's
neighbourhood. And such was the fury of the wind and the confusion of
the drift that frequently, in order to draw breath, they were compelled
to bend till their faces were between their knees. The farmhouse stood
within what in Scotland is called a "park," in this instance a small
enclosure, the wall of which might be at most three hundred yards
distant from the house door. It was two hours before daylight when they
entered this park; when morning broke, they had not yet succeeded in
making their way out of it.
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