The Land of the Hills and the Glens 



but even in the finest of days a breeze draws down through 

 the Sound— usually from the north-west— ruffling the waters 

 and sending white-capped wavelets to break against its 

 shingly shores. Many ships passing through the Sound 

 would the ptarmigan see without rising from her eggs. So 

 close below her is the sea that the glint of the wings of many 

 terns, eager in their fishing, would be plain to her, and she 

 would wonder, maybe, as to what tribe they might belong. 

 From the grassy corrie beneath, the cry of the curlew would 

 sometimes come of a quiet summer's night, and the cheery 

 song of the wheatear, as he perched among the rocks, would 

 be often in her ears. The eagle she would sometimes see, 

 soaring in the teeth of a stiff breeze along the ridge above 

 the rocks, or in calm sunny weather sailing in great circles 

 on motionless wings above the corrie. During fine weather 

 also the eagle would sit for hours on the cairn, digesting his 

 meals, and throwing up fur and bones in pellets. At such 

 times, so close would be her enemy, the ptarmigan would 

 crouch in terror low on her nest, lest the eagle should observe 

 her with his keen glance. On other days the eagle would 

 be hunting, maybe, amongst the Morvern Hills, and his 

 place on the cairn would be taken by a raven of grim aspect, 

 preening his feathers contentedly and ultimately dozing in 

 the strong sunshine. 



At times stags would cross the hilltop, their rapidly 

 growing horns massive looking by reason of their thick cover- 

 ing of velvet, and of an evening hinds would lead their young 

 calves that way. 



Hill flowers would grow near her nest. In the hot sun the 

 blossoms of the cushion pink would throw out their sweet 

 scent into the still air, and there would be violets, and wild 

 pansies and the small white flowers of the mountain saxifrage, 

 growing where the rocks are damp. 



In clear weather hill upon hill would stand out of the 

 early morning mist. South'ard, away past Duart and the 

 Island of Lismore, would rise the twin peaks of Cruachan, 



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