This they followed until near the head of the glen, where, in a
position which might almost escape even a gauger's eye, they found the
object of their search.
Tumbled around them in all directions were a quantity of gigantic
rocks thrown as it were at random during some Titanic war-fare or
diversion--between two of which the still-house was built in such a way,
that, were it not for the smoke in daylight, it would be impossible
to discover it, or at all events, to suppose that it could be the
receptacle of a human being.
On entering, Clinton and his men were by no means surprised to find
the place deserted, for this in fact was frequently the case on such
occasions. On looking through the premises, which they did by the light
of a large fire, they found precisely that which had been mentioned in
Hycy's letter--to wit, the Still, the Head, and the Worm; but with the
exception of an old broken rundlet or two, and a crazy vessel of wash
that was not worth removing, there was nothing whatsoever besides.
The Still was on the fire half filled with water, the Head was on the
Still, and the Worm was attached to the Head precisely as if they were
in the process of distillation.
"Ay," said Clinton, on seeing how matters stood, "I think I understand
this affair. It's a disappointment in one sense--but a sure enough card
in another.
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