THE SPIRIT OF GLENCROE. 107 



the invisible tenant of the cliff had some share in attract- 

 ing me back so soon. Scarcely had I wet my line when 

 I heard the mysterious whistle, which continued as be- 

 fore until I left the loch. I tried to ascertain the exact 

 spot from whence the sound proceeded, but was only the 

 more baffled, as I had no doubt it was from a perpen- 

 dicular and totally inaccessible rock. At last I became 

 so accustomed to it, that I should as soon have expected 

 to miss the trout from the loch as this wild note from 

 the hill. 



Summer was now advancing, and several engagements 

 prevented my returning to the Lochan during my resi- 

 dence in the neighbourhood ; but about the same season 

 two years after, when showing a friend some of our High- 

 land scenery, amongst other places I took him to Glen- 

 croe, and, in walking past the little loch, I almost started 

 when I heard the well-remembered whistle ! I had be- 

 fore given up hope of finding out the cause, and it had 

 even occurred to me that it might possibly be some echo 

 occasioned by the wind among the rocks. With this 

 absurd solution I was fain to rest satisfied; and it was 

 only last spring, when passing a steep and craggy hill in 

 Perthshire, that the true one was discovered. A small 

 bird flew out before me, and, perching on a detached 

 piece of rock, struck up its wild pecuh'ar note. It was 

 the Spirit of Glencroe ! With cautious steps I wound 

 round the crag to get a nearer view of the bird, when I 

 caught sight of its white breast, and, immediately de- 





