THE VENGEANCE OF 

 JHAPOO THE GOND 



f "^HE little coasting steamer swung slowly away 

 from the pier-head in the wonderful light of a 

 long northern evening, the long wedge of her 



-JR^ wash travelling in lines of smooth regularity 

 over the placid surface of the sea-loch, and the gulls flap- 

 ping and dipping in her seething wake. 



The scene was one common enough on the north-west 

 coast of Scotland, with its translucent green water, gaunt 

 pier, colley dog, and jerseyed Gael backed by a steep 

 pebbly shore, whitewashed slate-roofed inn and post office, 

 and long stretch of green-brown hillside. On the pier at 

 my feet lay portmanteau, rod, and creel ; beyond the hills 

 at the end of this small arm of the sea according to my 

 Ordnance map a number of likely-looking " lochans," or 

 mountain tarns. Beyond the little settlement, its shores 

 followed by a stretch of metalled road, the waters of the 

 Highland fiord bent suddenly out of sight round a miniature 

 headland, on whose granite rocks some black cormorants 

 perched, drying their outstretched wings. A few terns 

 hovered and screamed over the yellow seaweed that was 

 exposed by a dead low tide. 



Mine host of the inn, a fine burly Scot, led the way 

 across the road to show me upstairs to my comfortable, if 

 small, rooms, the windows of which looked out over the 

 calm waters of the sea-loch ; and in answer to my inquiries 



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