The Sea-Wood of Graden had been planted to shelter the cultivated fields behind, and check the encroachments of the blowing sand.  As you advanced into it from coastward, elders were succeeded by other hardy shrubs; but the timber was all stunted and bushy; it led a life of conflict; the trees were accustomed to swing there all night long in fierce winter tempests; and even in early spring, the leaves were already flying, and autumn was beginning, in this exposed plantation.  Inland the ground rose into a little hill, which, along with the islet, served as a sailing mark for seamen.  When the hill was open of the islet to the north, vessels must bear well to the eastward to clear Graden Ness and the Graden Bullers.  In the lower ground, a streamlet ran among the trees, and, being dammed with dead leaves and clay of its own carrying, spread out every here and there, and lay in stagnant pools.  One or two ruined cottages were dotted about the wood; and, according to Northmour, these were ecclesiastical foundations, and in their time had sheltered pious hermits.

I found a den, or small hollow, where there was a spring of pure water; and there, clearing away the brambles, I pitched the tent, and made a fire to cook my supper.  My horse I picketed farther in the wood where there was a patch of sward.  The banks of the den not only concealed the light of my fire, but sheltered me from the wind, which was cold as well as high.

The life I was leading made me both hardy and frugal.  I never drank but water, and rarely eat anything more costly than oatmeal; and I required so little sleep, that, although I rose with the peep of day, I would often lie long awake in the dark or starry watches of the night.  Thus in Graden Sea-Wood, although I fell thankfully asleep by eight in the evening I was awake again before eleven with a full possession of my faculties, and no sense of drowsiness or fatigue.  I rose and sat by the fire, watching the trees and clouds tumultuously tossing and fleeing overhead, and hearkening to the wind and the rollers along the shore; till at length, growing weary of inaction, I quitted the den, and strolled toward the borders of the wood.  A young moon, buried in mist, gave a faint illumination to my steps; and the light grew brighter as I walked forth into the links.  At the same moment, the wind, smelling salt of the open ocean and carrying particles of sand, struck me with its full force, so that I had to bow my head.

When I raised it again to look about me, I was aware of a light in the pavilion.  It was not stationary; but passed from one window to another, as though some one were reviewing the different apartments with a lamp or candle.  I watched it for some seconds in great surprise.  When I had arrived in the afternoon the house had been plainly deserted; now it was as plainly occupied.  It was my first idea that a gang of thieves might have broken in and be now ransacking Northmour’s cupboards, which were many and not ill supplied.  But what should bring thieves at Graden Easter?  And, again, all the shutters had been thrown open, and it would have been more in the character of such gentry to close them.  I dismissed the notion, and fell back upon another.  Northmour himself must have arrived, and was now airing and inspecting the pavilion.