CHAP, xxii.] HIGHLAND SHEEP. 183 



At eleven o'clock at night, when looking at it by the light of 

 a brilliant northern moon (every cloud having long disappeared), 

 we found that the water had already begun to subside, though it 

 still roared on with great fury. On the opposite rocks we could 

 see many a mountain burn as they glanced in the moonlight. 

 Every bird and animal was at rest, excepting a couple of owls 

 answering each other with loud booting?, which were plainly 

 beard above the noise of the waters. 



The friend I was with being obliged to go home the next 

 day, I determined also to wend my way to the low country, and 

 to follow the river till I reached my own house. 



We started on horseback very early. Nothing could exceed 

 the beauty of the morning, and everything, animate and inani- 

 mate, seemed to smile rejoicingly. The Findhorn had returned 

 to its usual size, and danced merrily in the sunshine. The 

 streams on the opposite cliffs were again like silver threads, and 

 the sheep were winding along tlie narrow paths on the face of 

 the rocks, the animals looking to us as if they were walking, 

 like flies, on the very face of the perpendicular cliffs. We saw 

 a flock of some thirty or so making their way in single file along 

 these paths : while we watched them they came to a place where 

 their road was broken up by the yesterday's torrents. We could 

 not understand what they would do. The path was evidently 

 too narrow to turn ; and, as well as we could see with our glasses, 

 to proceed was impossible. However, after a short halt the leader 

 sprang over the obstacle, whatever it was, and alighted safely on 

 the opposite side. The least false step would have sent him 

 down many hundred feet. However, they all got over in ssifety, 

 and having filed away for some little distance slowly along the 

 face of the precipice, they came to a small green shelf, appa- 

 rently only a few yards square, the object of all their risk and 

 labour. As fast as they got on this they dispersed, and com- 

 menced feeding quickly about it. We did not wait to see them 

 return, as we had a long day's journey before us. Behind the 

 house the bill seemed alive with grouse, crowing in the morning 

 sun. My hound came out baying joyously to see me, and we 

 started on our day's journey. Our road took us through birch- 

 woods, fragrant from the yesterday's rain, and in which the 

 birds sang right merrily. As we descended the river we passed 



