OUT OF THE DEPTHS 111 



into the loch ; then away past the islands of 

 Macaskan and Eil-na-gore and almost to Eil-an- 

 righ. On our right is the beautiful bold outline 

 of Benan, its precipitous sides scarred here and 

 there where some great boulder has lately broken 

 away and bounded down the side to join the 

 " tumbled fragments of the hills" which lie below 

 the brae, of all sizes and shapes. 



At length we have reached our destination, and 

 it is time to get the dredge overboard. One end 

 of the rope is fastened to a seat, and the other to 

 the dredge a common oyster dredge of about 

 two-feet beam, with a stout twine net, with a one- 

 inch mesh, instead of the usual iron chain netting. 

 This I find best for my work on this rocky shore. 

 While one man is making ready the dredge, the 

 other fastens between the front seats a large bag 

 of waterproof sail-cloth, in shape something like 

 one of those receptacles into which hop-pickers 

 strip the bine of its blossom. This is destined to 

 hold the contents of the dredge, to be turned over 

 and searched by plenty of willing hands, while 

 itself is making another tour of discovery at the 

 bottom of the loch. 



Over it goes with a splash, and Punch would 

 have been in after it if he had not been caught 

 by the collar. That officious little person thinks 

 nothing can be done properly without his help ; 

 but although he can swim like a duck, and dive 

 also well enough to get stones and ginger-beer 



