JULY. FLOODS IN THE FINDHORN. 261 



best, have had to wadij and scramble, at the risk of 

 our hves, to some elevated point of land. 



While standing near the house we saw two or 

 three boats belonging to the ferryman and the sal- 

 mon-fishers whirl past us. The flood having come 

 on without the least warning, their owners had had 

 no time to secure them. The rise, as I have said, 

 continued for about half an hour, then suddenly it 

 stopped, and in a few minutes the water began 

 visibly to fall. Before long it fell more quickly, 

 but still in no proportion to the rapidity with which 

 it had risen. After iv. had been sinking somewhat 

 above an hour, the tops of furze bushes began to 

 appear above the water, and soon afterwards we saw 

 a boat belonging to the salmon fishers, well manned, 

 and assisted by a rope held on the shore, coming 

 down to a cottage a quarter of a mile above us. 

 The main stream of the river was still quite imprac- 

 ticable ; but this boat was coming down an old 

 channel which was generally dry. By firing off my 

 gun several times I caught the attention of the 

 crew ; and I was quite certain that they would 

 know who it was that wanted help, and would come 

 to us if possible. When the torrent had become 

 somewhat less violent they came down, whirling 

 through the flood to where we were. They took us 

 on board, and by dint of skilful and strong rowing, 



