EXPLORING THE COUNTRY. 13 



cool, fresh air blowing from the wide Atlantic Ocean, 

 which seemingly lay at our feet, and expanding into 

 space till it met the clouds in the far horizon ! West- 

 ward out to sea are the rugged hills of the Isle of 

 Sky; and far to the right, in hazy distance, the 

 sea-girt lands of Harris and Lewes, all on this July 

 noon as bright and tranquil as the fairy isles of an 

 Italian lake, and looking as if they had never known 

 sunless days nor the wild winter storms of the 

 Atlantic. 



Although not on the very highest peaks, which are 

 miles to the south-west, we were equally well placed 

 for extensive range of view, and wandered for a long 

 time among these sterile faces, picking up curious 

 stones and plants, and now and again taking 

 another gaze at the beauties of the Almighty's 

 work. 



At one of the rocky ledges we started some ptar- 

 migan ; they flew off leisurely, and alighted on a peak 

 a short distance away, seeming not much shyer than 

 house-pigeons, for except by the falcon or hill fox 

 the harmless inhabitants of these lofty regions are 

 rarely disturbed. 



" Oh ! what pretty birds ! " exclaimed Ward. 

 "What are their habits, Major? you that dabble in 



