ISLAND OF THE FAIRIES. 113 



by way of distinction, the name of the lake, there is an 

 ancient burying-ground, and, as I have heard said, a 

 Druid or Runic monument. I would fain have landed 

 on it, but night was fast coming on, and besides, my 

 time was my employer's, not my own. 



' At the lower end of the lake we encountered a large 

 boat full of people. A piper stood in the bows, and the 

 wild notes of his bag-pipe, softened by distance and 

 multiplied by the echoes of the mountains, formed a 

 music that suited well with the character of the scene. 

 " It is a wedding party," said my comrade ; " they are 

 going to that white house which you see at the foot of 

 the hill. I wish you understood Gaelic : the boatmen 

 are telling me strange stories of the loch that I know 

 would delight you. Do you see that little green island, 

 that lies off about half a mile to the right ? The boldest 

 Highlander in the country would hesitate to land there 

 an hour after sunset. It is said to be haunted by 

 wraiths and fairies, and every variety of land and water 

 spirit. Directly in the middle of it there is a little lake, 

 in the lake an island, and on the island a tree beneath 

 which the Queen of the Fairies holds her court. What 

 would you not give to see her ? " Night came on before 

 we got landed ; and we lost sight of the lake while yet 

 sailing over it. Is it not strange that with all its beauty 

 it should be so little known ? I never heard nor met 

 with so much as its name, until it opened upon me with 

 all its islands, except once, in a copy of verses written by 

 a gentleman of the parish of Cromarty a Mr William- 

 son. The voyage terminated about an hour after night- 

 fall, our journey an hour after midnight. 



' Good-bye. My companions are just coming in 

 to dinner. Shall we not have another tete-a-tete to- 

 morrow ? ' 



VOL. I. 8 



