124 LOCH C RERAN. 



thought so to, and took a good race down for the upward 

 leap. Such a display of seabottom had not been vouch- 

 safed us for long, so we were not slow in mustering for a 

 scamper on the loch. The sail has said goodbye to the 

 yard in the gale, and the mast is looking for wreckage 

 since November, so we must fain trust to our oars for a 

 run down to Aird's Point. Unaccustomed hands settle 

 down to oars with satisfaction, and after a preliminary 

 canter, to see if a small flock of widgeon would await 

 closer inspection, we turn seawards. The morning is 

 beautiful, but just as we get well clear of the point and 

 out into the open water, a sharp sniff comes from the 

 south-west, and we look at one another questioningly. 

 The American gale predicted to-day, and the "chart" 

 threatening all sorts of evil, are we wise to proceed ? 

 Trusting in the fine tide as a sure indication of good 

 weather outside in the Atlantic, despite the white horses 

 now rapidly rising, we venture on. The loch is found to 

 be full of widgeon all as wild as possible, and even 

 mallards are not scarce, although they frequent more the 

 head of the loch. Down we go easily, for we are follow- 

 ing the tide, and soon arrive among the struggling waters, 

 and turn to cross towards the islets in the midst of the 

 turmoil of the current The tide turns sooner here, and 

 we suppose it is near slack tide, but are soon undeceived, 

 and have a desperate struggle ere we slip behind the 

 banks of half-submerged tangle and reach a rocky haven. 

 It is months since we could have landed here, and long 

 since we have done so, and we can scarcely credit our 

 eyes at the lavish prodigality of growth everywhere mani- 

 fest. Our lady comrade is wild with delight at the 

 brilliant-hued multitudes of Trochus Zizyphinus that 

 crimson-tinted spiral shell so finely shaped crawling 



