ON THE COAST OF ARRAN 159 



When the rain-cloud has passed over we 

 begin to climb again, slowly and painfully, over 

 the great blocks ; and ever the wind gets more 

 and more fierce. At length we are on the ridge, 

 which now rises very gradually to the summit 

 of Am-Binnein. If the day were calm we could 

 pass along this ridge as easily as along the high- 

 road on the beach 2,100 feet below ; but now 

 the blast from the south-west is terrible, and we 

 are obliged to creep along the hill-side just 

 below the ridge, so that the wind drives us 

 against the mountain. If we were on the top 

 the chances are that it would blow us over ; and 

 we know that the other or northern side is 

 precipitous. Coming to a place where there is 

 a grassy hollow, we venture to stand up and 

 look around us. We can barely keep upon our 

 feet. My friend, making a trumpet of his 

 hands, shouts to me ' This is a new experience.' 

 ' Precisely ' but before I have time to give that 

 answer, I am on my back. The wind has flung 



