AND ANGLING SONGS. 123 



turned so unceremoniously adrift, were by no means the most 

 agreeable. The character of the glen is that of savage seclusion, 

 a feature which, under cloud of night, is necessarily associated 

 with danger, in the shape, where there is no beaten road, of 

 swamps and break-neck places ; still the assurance given us by 

 the correct old housekeeper of the propinquity of the inn and 

 high road to Dalness, led us to feel no immediate anxiety about 

 the matter of night-quarters. On the contrary, instead of taking 

 every advantage which the daylight still remaining afforded us of 

 passing up the glen, we were induced to spend it in the vicinity 

 of a cascade or waterfall, forming a salmon- leap. Of this barrier 

 to the progress of the fish in the river Etive, we had received a 

 glowing description from the mouth qf Professor Wilson. We 

 did not feel justified, therefore, even under the circumstances of 

 our fatigue, to omit paying it a visit. 



While engaged, however, in watching the abortive attempts of 

 the salmon to gain higher ground, we became startled into the 

 propriety of raising anchor, by the overcast state of the sky, and 

 the evident approach of a storm. As much sail, accordingly, as 

 we were able to carry, was put into immediate requisition ; the 

 course pursued by us lying on the left bank of the river, pushing 

 upwards. We had not proceeded above a mile or two before 

 the night, accompanied with rain and wind, set in, the latter 

 with some degree of violence. As long, however, as we remained 

 buoyed up with the prospect of reaching King's House, for the 

 signal-light of which we looked momentarily and eagerly, this 

 unexpected demand upon our powers of further exertion was 

 scarcely felt; but when, after a persevering advance, which 

 lasted some hours, no such friendly intimation of shelter dis- 

 covered itself, a reaction began to take place, and feelings both 

 of exhaustion and embarrassment succeeded those by which we 

 had hitherto been supported. 



The night fortunately was not quite so dark but that we could 



