176 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



CHAPTER XVII 



THE BRIDGE POOL AT NIGHT — OUR HAYDEN COFFIN — 

 A MUCH-PRAISED LOCH 



After next morning's breakfast four of our company 

 left us. They were on the tramp, a walking hohday, 

 while their friends were staying for the fishing. 



We tried sea-fishing first, but a morning at it con- 

 vinced us that Loch Duich's waters, although salt, are 

 too far from the open sea to afford much sport. We 

 got a few little cod and a very nice string of flounders. 

 In the afternoon we walked by the river, but found the 

 water too low to give hope of success; still the sight 

 of sea-trout in several pools, and a salmon here and 

 there, caused Walter and Kirk to regret that they had 

 not brought their rods and to make plans for a good 

 try after tea. 



As we were leaving the hotel in the evening my 

 attention was called to an extraordinary alteration 

 in the outlook, due to changes in the atmosphere. 

 The great, bare, brown hills in front — the Five Sisters 

 of Kintail — had apparently advanced so much nearer 

 &s to appear quite close, and their details, which eye 

 could not reach before, were now clearly outhned — ■ 

 a sure sign of rain. How unreal they looked against • 

 the blue sky, which, with light clouds here and there, 

 appeared to press them in, may be gathered from my 

 matter-of-fact son who obtrusively remarked, 'Why, 

 it's just the cardboard effects of Earl's Court/ 



While we looked and talked a shower came which 

 brought a rainbow, and the form it came in, an almost 

 completed ring, added further unreality to the scene. 



Six brace of sea-trout was our evening's catch, 



I 



