I A Gossip on a Sutherland Hill-side 215 



way from one to the other in great wonderment ; 

 but the quaintest of them all for situation is that at 

 Store Point, which is connected with the mainland 

 by a natural arch, and where Thorkill, the Orkney 

 chief, concealed his lady-love.' 



Clattering on past curious mounds of gravel, 

 which look very like glacial moraines, our attendant 

 carts suddenly diverge across the moss and plunge 

 into the swollen stream, the very ponies seeming to 

 enjoy the fun, and half swimming, half scrambling, 

 with shouts and screams, and ringing laughter from 

 the haymakers, they gain the wet fields on the other 

 side, where the coarse marsh -grass, rich mottled 

 brown like the hair on an old stag's neck, is piled 

 up in vast cocks. 



' Farewell, lassies ! ' 



* Gude-day, and a muckle hart for you, sir ! ' 



We must confess that we are not very well off 

 for houses along the road, and that the gaps between 

 them are considerably longer than those between 

 the villas of Highgate Hill ; but we can see three at 

 once, and that is three more than one can see in the 

 same distance on many a better frequented Highland 

 road. The shepherds are scattered about in their 

 bothies, and make but a small show. You must go 

 to the richer straths and the borders of the sea, if 

 you want society in Sutherland. There is some 

 comfort, however, in thinking that the inns are 

 placed with judicious care, and that there is no fear 

 of your being unable to get from one to the other in 



