CHAPTER XVII 



The Bridge Pool at Night Our Hayden Coffin A much- 

 praised Loch 



AFTER next morning's breakfast four of our com- 

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

 holiday, while their friends were staying for the 

 fishing. 



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

 convinced 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 as to appear quite close, and their 

 details, which eye could not reach before, were now 

 clearly outlined 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 



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