236 CBUISES. 



been taken outwards to give some stranger a short cruise, 

 I sat down upon a rock by the shore. In about an hour 

 I saw what I thought the cutter coming in, and in good 

 time for dinner; but I soon saw it was another vessel of 

 the same size and rig; and so I sat for nearly another 

 hour. Getting very cold after the previous wading, I 

 made my way towards the bit inn. where I immediately 

 found a letter from Sir Thomas, saving that he had been 

 requested to run the cutter up to Scourie, to bring the 

 Duke and his two sons to Loch Inver to-morrow. He had 

 sent a messenger up the river to bring me down, but he 

 had missed me, probably while I was on the crags. His 

 note was an apology for being obliged to run off for a 

 night, and leave me at the inn. Luckily he sent a small 

 supply of clothing— not quite the things I wanted, but 

 they must suffice. John Lauder and S. Innes had been 

 caught at the cruives in time. So I am alone in an ex- 

 tremely cold house, with no fire at this moment even in the 

 kitchen, as they seem to be giving everything a thorough 

 redd* for to-morrow. However, I am promised some 

 broiled salmon and cold mutton speedily. All my papers 

 are on board, and my only book — luckily, one of my best 

 — is Clarke's ' Promises, ' which I carry in my breast- 

 pocket, and n-e when I rest myself, by murmuring river 

 or on mountain side." 



* Putting in order. 



