292 THE LAST SUMMERS AND WINTERS. 



of the river, which was both rolling rapidly and roaring 

 fiercely. We then made onr way up the river-side, and 

 as we best could over the wooded knolls to the boat-house. 

 This we achieved diligently though slowly, as the ground 

 was often rough and the heather high. We passed several 

 beautiful little waterfalls, and though sometimes sprawling 

 like a pair of wild cats, and up to the eyes in ferns and 

 bushes, we ever and anon came to some grassy platform 

 with sheltering rock or sylvan screen, and gazed around 

 upon the mingled majesty by which we were encompassed. 

 Though the distance is very short, this circumambulation 

 of every little creek and bay took us several hours. Bright 

 as was the sunshine, several heavy showers, both of snow 

 and rain, passed down the ravine between us and Ben 

 Venue. We ensconced ourselves once or twice in peaty 

 hollows among the heather when we thought the gloom 

 was gathering, but, with exception of a little peppering 

 now and then of dry hail that jumped just like ' sweeties,' 

 we escaped entirely. 



" Next morning (Thursday) was more beautiful than 

 ever, with the additional advantage of being calm and still. 

 There was just a gentle breathing in the woods, and a 

 slight ripple on the waters, which, however, were bright 

 and blue from the almost unclouded brilliancy of the 

 neavens above. It was our last day, but as we did not 

 require to be in Stirling till after half-past five, we had 



