42 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. III. 



We had scarcely launched our boat on the 

 water, leaving the forester on shore, as our tiny 

 craft scarcely held three people comfortably, when 

 a squall of wind came on, blowing down the side 

 of Ben Loyal in a perfect hurricane right from the 

 shore which we had just left. Short as the dis- 

 tance was, we could not row back against it, and 

 had nothing left for it but to go before the wind 

 right across the large loch, fully a mile and a 

 half in width at that part. At the same time, 

 owing to the lowness of the stern, our only chance 

 of safety was to keep the head of the boat to 

 windward, a matter of no small difficulty, as the 

 wind blew in the most violent gusts and increased 

 every moment. The slightest turn of the boat, 

 which would bring her at all broadside to the 

 wind, must have instantly swamped her, and with 

 this pleasant prospect before us we went with 

 fearful speed across the loch. The only thing I 

 dreaded was that anything should give way about 

 the oars, or the pins that they worked upon, as 

 nothing could then have saved us. However, Diis 

 aliter visum, and we landed safely, but wet enough, 

 on the opposite shore, and right glad we both were 

 when we looked back at the water, which was per- 

 fectly white with foam, to feel our feet once more 

 on terra firma. I mention this incident as a warning 



