WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



down to the very edge of the water, and hanging over its 

 surface, as if to gaze at their own fair forms in its glassy 

 deptlis, were as distinctly seen in the lake as on the shore; 

 while here and there a trout rising at a fly dimpled the 

 smooth water, and in my idle mood I watched the circles 

 as they gradually widened and disappeared. The white 

 gulls floated noiselessly by, as if afraid to disturb the still- 

 ness of the scene, instead of saluting their common enemy 

 with loud cries. I had been for some time stretched on the 

 ground enjoying the quiet beauty of the picture, till I had 

 at last fallen into a half-sleeping, half- waking kindof dream- 

 iness, when I was suddenly aroused by a Glasgow steamer 

 passing within ahundredyardsofme, full of holiday people, 

 with fiddles and parasols conspicuous on the deck, while a 

 stream of black sooty smoke showered its favours over me, 

 and filled my mouth as I opened it to vent my ill temper in 

 an anathema against steam-boats, country-dance tunes, 

 and cockneys. 



There have come in my way, during my ramblesthrough 

 the H ighlands, many a fair and beauteous loch, placed like 

 a bright jewel in the midst of the rugged mountains, far 

 out of reach of steam and coach, accessible only to the 

 walking traveller, or at most to a highland pony, where 

 the only living creature to be seen is the silent otter play- 

 ing its fantastic gambols in the quiet of the evening, or 

 the stag as he comes to drink at the water's edge or to 

 crop the succulent grass which grows in the shallows. 

 There are so many small lochs which are known but to few 

 individuals, but which are equally beautiful with those 

 whose renown and larger size have made them the resort 



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