THE LOCH. 229 



was a dead calm and the salmon were splashing about 

 in all directions, and evidently in no taking mood, I 

 sauntered along the shore giving an occasional cast, 

 that by moving about I might at least keep off some of 

 "the plague of flies." At length to my astonishment 

 a fish rose and was hooked. For two or three minutes 

 all went well, but by the end of that time I began to 

 find myself entirely at the mercy of my winged 

 enemies ; who, taking advantage of my slower move- 

 ments, now that I was engaged in a hard struggle, 

 began to settle in swarms on my hands and neck and 

 every part of my person open to attack. The torture 

 soon became unendurable, and my patience quite 

 exhausted, I began to haul the fish straight in, to the 

 great danger of the tackle. However, I succeeded in 

 landing a good salmon, and then, having thrown him 

 up high among the heather, without stopping to kill 

 him, I rushed to the water's edge, and immersing head 

 and hands at once sacrificed a hecatomb of hungry 

 midges to appease my irritation. 



And now, dealing the fish a blow on the head, 

 which terminated his life, I conveyed him to the cave 

 and my attendants having by this time lit a good fire, 

 I lay down for a few minutes more rest while they 

 cooked some of the fish. After breakfast, as there was 

 not a breath of air, I gave up all idea of fishing to-day, 

 and started for home. 



The heat of the sun's direct and reflected rays was 

 so intense among the bare quartz rocks over which 

 lay our course, that we had not gone far before we 

 were glad to seek shelter behind a large stone. 

 Presently, however, we resumed our march, and began 

 the ascent of the " bealloch," or pass, down which we 

 had yesterday travelled so rapidly ; but our pace was 



