64 ARDENMOHR. 



"As you choose; but be at the boathouse when 

 we leave at five." 



" Yes, yes ; shove ahead." 



We rowed on quickly, the loch being quite smooth, 

 except here and there a cat's-paw ripple ; but there 

 was not much fear of wanting a breeze, as in the great 

 Highland lochs the least wind ripples the surface, 

 while a moderate gale gets up sea-like waves. 



It was a lovely scene to-day going up the loch, 

 and observing the various shapes and shades of the 

 hills on either side the grey rocky faces, green 

 patches, and distant views of the far blue mountains ; 

 while the near slopes, now purple with the heather in 

 full bloom, were reflected on the glassy lake, showing 

 every detail of outline and colour in softer hues- 

 double beauty, hill and shadow, as "Wordsworth says 

 of his swans. 



All round the edge of the loch there is sand or 

 shingle; and, but for the absence of shells and sea- 

 weed and of that peculiar sea-beach smell, one might 

 fancy oneself on the sea-shore ; the more so from the 

 screaming of gulls floating on the water, and hover- 

 ing about the islands. 



Archie told us that these birds breed in thousands 

 on a small loch just over the hill, and that the sheep- 



