Page 124 - The snake's pass

112 THE SNAKE'S PASS.
serious with me for any such levity. I reached the top
—and found myself alone ! A sense of blank dis-
appointment came over me—which was only
relieved
when, on looking at my watch, I found that it was as
yet still early in the forenoon. It was three o'clock
yesterday when I had met—when I had made
the
ascent.
As I had evidently to while away a considerable time,
I determined to make an accurate investigation of the hill
of Knocknacar—much, very much fuller than I had
made as yet. As my unknown had descended the hill
by the
east, and would probably make the ascent—if
she ascended at all— by the same side ; and as it was my
object not to alarm her, I determined to confine my
investigations to the west side. Accordingly I descended
about half way down the slope, and then commenced my
prying into the secrets of Nature under a sense of the
just execration of me and my efforts on the part of the
whole of the animate and inanimate occupants of the
mountain side.
Hours to me had never seemed of the same inexhaus-
tible proportions as the hours thus spent. At first I was
strong with a dogged patience ; but this in time gave way
to an impatient eagerness, that merged into a despairing
irritability. More than once I felt an almost irresistible
inclination to rush to the top of the hill and shout, or
conceived an equally foolish idea to make a
call at every
house, cottage and cabin, in the neighbourhood.
In this
latter desire my impatience was somewhat held in check