254 SPORT AND TRAVEL PAPERS 



Thus provided, the prince set sail from Lochlin and anchored 

 in the gulf. The first day the hempen cable broke ; the second, 

 the woollen cable parted. There still remained the gift of the 

 daughters of Lochlin. The third day came, the time had nearly 

 expired ; his hopes were high ; his triumph was almost achieved ; 

 but some fair frail one had contributed her flaxen locks ; the 

 last hope failed, and the bark was overwhelmed. The prince's 

 body was dragged ashore by a faithful dog and carried to a cave 

 that still bears his name, in which the old men point out a little 

 cairn where tradition says the body of Breachkan was interred. 

 From that time, the legend tells, the whirlpool was called 

 Corry vreachkan . ' ' 



As we left the island for the mainland, the sea seemed alive 

 with cuddies a small white fish they were jumping about 

 in shoals. Terns, herring, and black-backed gulls and cor- 

 morants plunged in among them, and secured their supper 

 without trouble. A seal, no doubt taking his share also, showed 

 his head every now and then, and looked at us with his big 

 black eyes as we passed rapidly by. As the sun set behind us, 

 its golden rays illumined salient features of the mainland hills, 

 leaving untouched the dark-blue colouring of the deeper valleys ; 

 the yellow light crept steadily upward, the shadows followed, 

 and, alas ! another day was soon to close. 



During the last few days of November I was once more on 

 my way to Scarba, this time for the hind shooting, with orders 

 to find and to kill twenty-five old ladies whose charms were 

 no longer such as to make them desirable occupants of the 

 forest. 



Means and ways of travelling at this season differed from 

 those provided during autumn, winter arrangements had come 

 into force, and no steamer ran beyond Ardrishaig ; closed and 

 open postcarts, however, took us in some three hours or more 

 to certain cross-roads, and a private carriage thence to the 

 castle. Seen through a misty rain, the scenery in its autumnal 

 colouring was very sombre and depressing, and passengers, 

 luckily, were but few. It was a fair day at Lochgilphead but 

 little going on ; a lame horse tried hard, but apparently without 

 success, to find a new master ; a piper, dripping with rain, 

 marched stolidly up and down in front of a whiskey shop, making 

 sweet music as if his life or whiskey depended on it, and there 



