CHAPTERXXV。
RUMOURS。
AlmostfromthefirstmomentofhisbeingdomiciledonGlashgar，whatwiththegoodfood，thefineexercise，theexquisiteair，andhisgreathappiness，Gibbiebegantogrow;andhetooktogrowingsofastthathislegssoonshotfaroutofhiswinseygarment。But，ofallplaces，thatwasasmallmatterinGormgarnet，wherethekiltwasascommonastrowsers。Hiswirylimbsgrewlargerwithoutlosingtheirfirmnessorelasticity;hischest，theeffortinrunninguphillconstantlyalternatedwiththereliefofrunning，down，rapidlyexpanded，andhislungsgrewhardyaswellaspowerful;tillhebecameatlengthsuchinwindandmuscle，thathecouldrundownawaywardsheepalmostaswellasOscar。Andhisnervegrewalsowithhisbodyandstrength，tillhiscoolnessandcourageweresplendid。Never，whenthetideofhisaffairsranmostintheshallows，hadGibbiehadmuchacquaintancewithfears，butnowhehadforgottenthetasteofthem，andwouldhaveencounteredawildhighlandbullaloneonthemountain，asreadilyastieCrummieupinherbyre。
Oneafternoon，Donal，havinggotahalf-holiday，bythehelpofafriendandthefavourofMistressJean，camehometoseehismother，andhavinggreetedher，setouttofindGibbie。Hehadgonealongway，lookingandcallingwithoutsuccess，andhadcomeinsightofacertaintinyloch，ortarn，thatfilledahollowofthemountain。
ItwascalledtheDeidPot;andtheoldawe，amountingnearlytoterror，withwhichinhischildhoodhehadregardedit，returneduponhim，themomenthesawthedarkgleamofit，nearlyasstrongasever——anaweindescribable，arisingfrommingledfeelingsofdepth，anddarkness，andlateralrecesses，andunknownserpent-likefishes。Thepot，thoughsmallinsurface，wastrulyofunknowndepth，andhadelementsofdreadaboutittellinguponfarlessactiveimaginationsthanDonal’s。Whilehestoodgazingatit，almostafraidtogonearer，agreatsplashthatechoedfromthesteeprockssurroundingit，broughthisheartintohismouth，andimmediatelyfollowedaloudbarking，inwhichherecognizedthevoiceofOscar。Beforehehadwellbeguntothinkwhatitcouldmean，Gibbieappearedontheoppositesideoftheloch，highaboveitslevel，onthetopoftherocksformingitsbasin。Hebeganinstantlyarapiddescenttowardsthewater，wheretherocksweresosteep，andthefootingsoprecarious，thatOscarwiselyremainedatthetop，norattemptedtofollowhim。PresentlythedogcaughtsightofDonal，wherehestoodonalowerlevel，whencethewaterwascomparativelyeasyofaccess，andstartingoffatfullspeed，joinedhim，withmuchdemonstrationofwelcome。ButhereceivedlittlenoticefromDonal，whosegazewasfixed，withmuchwonderandmorefear，onthedescendingGibbie。Sometwentyfeetfromthesurfaceoftheloch，hereachedapointwhenceclearly，inDonal’sjudgment，therewasnopossibilityoffartherdescent。ButDonalwasnevermoremistaken;forthatinstantGibbieflashedfromthefaceoftherockheadforemost，likeafishingbird，intothelake。