132 KIRKMAIDEN 



they left it on landing; and there also is the well, 

 bubbling cool and fresh from the rock, much venerated 

 at this day as a wishing- well by lovers and other afflicted 

 persons. To doubt the truth of the legend of St. Medana 

 is to disregard the plain evidence of one's senses. 



And what a feast for these senses is offered in this most 

 sequestered spot on this shining Eve of Pentecost. Let 

 us cross the golf-links and leave behind all the heart- 

 searching problems of approach and quarter strokes 

 the naughty chances of bad lies and foozled putts. Let 

 us get out upon that bold headland beyond the green, 

 where the rock rampart resumes its southward course. 

 Lying upon that sweet, short turf one may forget all 

 about votes of censure and implacable Whips, conscious 

 only of the glory of earth and sea and sky. 



How persistently the past crops up in the present ! It 

 is centuries since Gaelic was the speech of people in this 

 district ; though it is still spoken in the Isle of Man lying 

 over yonder pale, but distinct, across the summer sea. 

 Yet the place-names here are nearly all Gaelic. This 

 headland is called Benbowie the Yellow Crag and the 

 reason is not far to seek, for the face of the cliff is gilded 

 with a rich yellow lichen Parietaria. Forests have risen 

 and been felled whole races of men have vanished and 

 made way for others yet neither winter storms nor 

 summer suns have driven this lowly lichen from its 

 encampment on the rock. 



The man. be his eyes like those of Argus, who wants 

 to enjoy all that a holiday in the country can afford, 

 should never leave his field-glasses behind. I should 

 have missed half the delight of this hour but for that 

 part of the idler's equipment; because, far below where 



