Bdnn Eolosary of Ulva 



the seas break right over the summit of this lighthouse, and 

 the whole building sways and trembles with the impact of 

 the waves. 



To the north-west, and lying many miles behind the 

 rugged island of Coll, hill upK>n hill of the Outer Hebrides 

 stood out sharply against the horizon. On the most southerly 

 of these islands — Barra Head — the lighthouse, even at this 

 distance, could be made out. Then, bearing north, were 

 Hecla above Castlebay, and Ben Mor of South Uist, while, 

 its summit just appearing above the sea, Eaval of North Uist 

 showed faintly. Nearer at hand, but in a direct line with the 

 latter, stood the lonely lighthouse of Heiskeir, where, until 

 recently, grey seals had their home. Almost due north many 

 islands showed : low-lying Canna, mountainous Rhum, with 

 Eigg and Muck nearer at hand. Behind these again the 

 Cuchulain Hills of Skye caught the sun's rays. More to the 

 eastward lay the hills of Knoydart, and amongst the many 

 peaks in that direction Ben Nevis was the only hill on which 

 a cloud rested. But one had not to look far afield for fine 

 scenery, for the neighbouring island of Mull supplied that 

 to the full. On either side of Beinn Eolosary the two sea 

 lochs — Loch Tuadh and Loch nan Ceall — cut deeply into the 

 hill country. At the head of the latter loch Ben Mor rose 

 straight' from the sea waters, the wide corrie known as Coire 

 Ghorm and the great precipices north-east of the summit cairn 

 seeming but a stone's throw away. Still nearer were the dark 

 rocks above Gribun, where the grass was already browned 

 as the result of many cold winds from the north-west which 

 that summer had brought to the west coast. The bracken 

 also, wherever exposed to the wind, was standing brown and 

 withered, in which condition it had indeed been since the 

 latter part of June. 



Gradually, as the day advanced, a rainbow ring encircled 

 the sun, and thin clouds spread over the sky from the south ; 

 but even after sunset the sky in the north retained its deep 

 blue, and hill and island stood out with exceptional clearness. 



47 



