about five o'clock
The district is wild and mountainous , and , at the period to which I refer , in particular , almost inaccessible through any regularly constructed road . The hearts , however , of these mountain residents were deeply attuned to religious and civil liberty , and revolted with loathing from the cold doctrines and compulsory ministrations of the curate of Closeburn . They were , therefore , marked birds for the myrmidons of oppression , led on by Claverhouse , and `` Red Rob , '' the scarlet-cloaked leader of his band . It was about five o'clock of the afternoon , in the month of August , that a troop of horse was seen crossing the Glassrig -- a flat and heathy muir -- and bearing down with great speed upon Mitchelslacks . Mrs. Harkness had been very recently delivered of a child , and still occupied her bed , in what was denominated the chamber , or cha ` mer -- an apartment separated from the rest of the house , and set apart for more particular occasions . Her husband , the object of pursuit , having had previous intimation , by the singing or whistling of a bird -LRB- as was generally reported on such occasions -RRB- , had betaken himself , some hours before , to the mountain and the cave -- his wonted retreat on similar visits . From this position , on the brow of a precipice , inaccessible by any save a practised foot , he could see his own dwelling , and mark the movements which were going on outside .