JULY. FLOODS IN THE FINDHORN. 261 



been swept away at the first rise of the river, or, at 

 best, have had to wade and scramble, at the risk 

 of our lives, to some elevated point of land. 



While standing near the house we saw two or 

 three boats belonging to the ferryman and the 

 salmon-fishers whirl past us. The flood having 

 come on without the least warning, their owners 

 had had no time to secure them. The rise, as I have 

 said, continued for about half an hour, then sud- 

 denly it stopped, and in a few minutes the water 

 began visibly to fall. Before long it fell more- 

 quickly, but still in no proportion to the rapidity 

 with which it had risen. After it had been sinking 

 somewhat above an hour, the tops of furze bushes 

 began to appear above the water, and soon after- 

 wards we saw a boat belonging to the salmon-fishers, 

 well manned, and assisted by a rope held on the 

 shore, coming down to a cottage a quarter of a mile 

 above us. The main stream of the river was still 

 quite impracticable; but this boat was coming- 

 down an old channel which was generally dry. By 

 firing off my gun several times I caught the atten- 

 tion of the crew; and I was quite certain that they 

 would know who it was that wanted help, and 

 would come to us if possible. When the torrent 

 had become somewhat less violent they came down, 

 whirling through the flood to where we were. They 



