London to John O Groat's. 353 



miles of extra footing. The next morning I set out in 

 good season, determined to reach Edinburgh, if possible, 

 by night. 



Followed the Grala Water, as it is called here, just 

 as if it were a placid lake or land-locked bay, though 

 it is a tortuous and swift-running stream. The scenery 

 was still picturesque, in some places very grand and 

 romantic. There was one great amphitheatre just 

 before reaching the village of Stow which was pecu- 

 liarly interesting. It was a great bowl full of earth's 

 glory up to the very rim. The circular wall was 

 embossed with the best patterns and colors of vegeta- 

 tion. The hills of every tournure showed each in a fir 

 setting, looking, with their sloping fields of grain, like 

 inverted goblets of gold vined with emerald leaf-work. 

 In the valley a reaping-machine was at work with its 

 peculiar chatter and clatter, and men and women were 

 following in its wake, gathering up and binding the 

 grain as it fell and clearing the way for the next 

 round. Up and down these hills frequently runs a 

 stripe of Scotch firs or larches a few rods wide ; here 

 and there they resemble those geometrical figures often 

 seen in gardens and pleasure grounds. The sun peep- 

 ing out of the clouds, and flooding these features with 

 a sudden and transient river of light, gives them a 

 glow and glory that would delight the artist. After 



