368 NETHER LOCHABER. 



rock like a chamois, and in less than ten minutes we were standing 

 at the mouth of the celebrated cave. Samuel's Cave is in fact two 

 caves, the outer and smaller one, with a broad portal that admits 

 abundant light and air, forming a sort of vestibule or antechamber 

 to the inner cave. Provided with one or two old newspapers and 

 some wax vestas, we improvised a couple of rude torches which we 

 carried with us as we crept through a narrow opening by which 

 alone access is obtained into the inner antrum. Lighting one of 

 these torches, which answered our purpose quite well enough, we 

 explored the cave at leisure, closely scrutinising the walls and roof 

 as high as we could reach, in the hope of perhaps finding some 

 scratch or sculptures, however rude, to prove that the place had 

 been inhabited in the times of the " cave-men." Nothing of the 

 kind, however, was discernible. The cave in its every part is 

 exceedingly damp and cold, with green, slimy roof and walls, 

 where not even the hardiest wild beast of mountain or forest would 

 think of taking up its abode, far less any human being with the 

 faintest notion of the value of warmth and comfort. There are 

 scores of lesser caves and fissures in the rocks around where one 

 would elect to live by reason of their dryness, in preference to the 

 big and pretentious Samuel's Cave, which, as a mere cave, is 

 perhaps interesting enough, and not unworthy of a visit ; otherwise 

 it is a " sell," in exploring which no one can spend more than 

 the shortest five minutes to any good purpose. In the times of 

 civil wars and clan feuds it is conceivable that one or more 

 outlawed and " broken " men might find the outer cave a secure 

 and not altogether unpleasant place of shelter to pass a night 

 in where no better might be. As a place also to hide one's more 

 valuable goods and chattels in an emergency, the cave may at times 

 have had its value and use. It never, depend upon it, was 

 inhabited for any length of time by any human being. A week of 

 it would kill the stoutest, robustest savage that ever trod the 



