8 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. I. 



couple of dog-straps, and turning him loose in 

 the short sweet grass by the edge of the lake. 



On the following morning, at the instigation of 

 one of our party, who was very anxious to procure 

 some eggs of the black-throated diver {Colymbus 

 arcticus), we started for Loch Urigil, a lake about 

 two miles from the inn. Our first step was to 

 launch our boat in the lake, close to the door ; 

 and having crossed this piece of water, we dragged 

 the boat out again, and, mounting it on our 

 shoulders, carried it across the hill to the other 

 lake. Little, however, had we reckoned on the 

 distance we had to go. 



" How far is the lake from here ?" was our 

 inquiry on leaving the water-side. 



" Oh, just over yonder brae," was the answer 

 of the innkeeper, as he pointed to a height a few 

 hundred yards off. 



" How far do you say ?" 



" Just a wee bit." 



But that weary " wee bit " of the innkeeper's ! 

 Many an anathema was poured on the head of our 

 guide before we had got the boat fairly afloat in 

 Loch Urigil. Once there, however, our cares were 

 soon forgotten. My friend put his fishing-rod 

 together ; while I, accompanied by Mr. Dunbar, 

 went off in the boat to the islands on the lake, in 



