CAMPSIE LINN 165 



his little boat he did not anticipate much pleasure. 

 In fact, neither Charlie nor his master conceived it 

 would be possible to pass the falls into the Linn, 

 since no boat could do so in the ordinary state of 

 the water without being upset, or dashed to shivers. 

 They would see how things looked, however, on 

 their arrival at the spot, and act accordingly. 



" Now then, loosen my boat, Charlie : I will go 

 first ; and take care you do not run foul of me." 



The boats being unmoored, we shot down the 

 river in a moment, and were soon at the end of the 

 park, where the Isla comes into the Tay. This 

 additional volume of water increased our velocity ; 

 we guided our boats into the main currents, and 

 away we went with the swiftness of a steam-engine. 

 Rocks and woods opened to our view in an instant, 

 and in an instant vanished behind us. Thus we 

 were driven along with great fury till we came 

 within the sound of the great falls of the Linn of 

 Campsie : soon we descried before us the awful 

 barrier of rocks which rose up right athwart the 

 stream, extending from bank to bank. 



The waters had worn their way in some places 

 through this barrier, and tumbled madly through 

 the rocky gorges ; down they went, thundering 

 with stunning sound into the enormous cauldror 

 below. Then arose the strife — the dashing of the 

 spray — the buffeting against the banks — the swirl- 

 ing of the eddies, crested with large masses of foam 

 — all was in hideous commotion. 



This state of things threatened to put an end to 

 our projected voyage. To go right onwards through 

 the centre gorge was to pass to certain destruction : 



