A SCHERZO 177 



II.— ON THE LOCH 



The day following that on which the events last 

 recorded took place, was that of the fishing com- 

 petition. It turned out very hot and fine, so our 

 party decided not to go on the loch until well 

 on towards evening. It was also decided to take 

 plenty of refreshments on board (the boats, I mean), 

 as we had determined to fish throughout the live- 

 long night. 



Loch Rannoch is a fine sheet of water, eleven 

 miles long, and over a mile in width. It is placed 

 amid magnificent surroundings ; the outline of the 

 screen of mountains to the west, which lies on the 

 farther side of that dreary waste known as the Moor 

 of Rannoch, being exceedingly fine as viewed when 

 looking up the loch from the Kinloch-Rannoch end ; 

 while nearer at hand, towards the east, the giant 

 peak of Schiehallion, like a sugar-loaf, rises abruptly 

 out of the valley, forming a marked feature of the 

 landscape. Nevertheless, from the fisherman's point 

 of view, the loch is not extremely interesting, owing 

 to the lack of nice bays and islands — the shores 

 being too straight. But near to the west end the 



