236 ROD AND RIVER 



turmoil of the great city. We could stand it 

 no longer, and so we decided to ask for leave, 

 and, after much discussion, eventually found 

 ourselves at Kinross. The pleasant little hotel 

 was a welcome change to us, and, as there were 

 several people staying there for the loch-fishing, 

 we were far from solitary. When we met at the 

 nondescript meal which was termed dinner, in the 

 evening, the relation of the day's experiences, 

 whether of success or disaster, proved so enter- 

 taining that it was generally midnight before we 

 retired to rest. 



Lochleven is full of historic interest, and the 

 surrounding scenery, if not as striking as that in 

 many other parts of Scotland, is nevertheless very 

 beautiful. The islands with which it is here and 

 there studded serve to break the monotony of so 

 large an expanse of water. There is, too, some 

 legend connected with each of them. That on 

 which stand the ruins of the old castle, of course, 

 appeals most strongly to one's sympathies by 

 reason of its connection with the ill-starred 

 Queen. 



Some years ago, when the loch was being 

 dragged or cleaned, I forget which, a bunch of 

 large keys was discovered at the bottom, not far 

 from the castle, and these, they say, are believed 

 to have been the keys of the latter, which were 

 stated to have been thrown into the loch when 



