II 



hanging the Atlantic waves. The " auld wives' stories" of the 

 MacDonalds and MacQuillans were faithfully recounted by the 

 "genius loci'''' personified by the rustic antiquarian, who, very good- 

 humouredly, acted as cicerone. 



At about 6.15 p.m. the Causeway Hotel was reached, where a 

 plentiful and highly-appreciated meal was partaken of, and, we may 

 safely say, done ample justice to. 



After dinner, an adjournment took place to the grand attraction , 

 the Giant's Causeway, on which " the whistle" of the conductor 

 and Hon. Sec. of the Club called a general muster shortly after sun- 

 set. "We may just observe, in a passing way, that the sound of the 

 aforesaid instrument, and the sight of its owner, produced a magic 

 effect on the entire " corps diplomatique" of guides, who had mus- 

 tered in strength proportionate to the numbers of the Club, but 

 who felt that their occupation was, if not gone, certainly superseded 

 "for the nonce" by Mr. Gray. In consequence of the "heavy 

 swell" on the sea, the boats could not be used, and the party con- 

 tented themselves by visiting Portcoon cave, from the land side, 

 and, by the aid of blue-lights, were enabled to obtain an accurate 

 idea of its extent and grandeur. The clouds of evening, and a some- 

 what threatening atmosphere, although they had but little effect 

 on the hilarity of our tourists, yet suggested thoughts of home, 

 alias hotel, where the whole party met once more, at about half- 

 past ten o'clock. Some of the most adventurous had found their 

 way as far as the "amphitheatre," and had scaled the heights of the 

 headland, returning thus to their starting point. The rest had 

 wended their less adventurous road by the lower route, and all met, 

 equally delighted with their Causeway experience. The gray aspect 

 of the evening, with the unusually grand surf which whitened the 

 whole of the rocks, presented this wonderful natural production to 

 many of the parties in a new point of view. 



A vote of the party was taken before bed-time as to whether 

 Ballintoy and the Lias beds found there should be attempted in 

 the morning. The majority, however — indeed, nearly the entire — 

 agreed to leave that for another excursion. 



Thursday morning rose clear and full of sunshine, presenting a 

 marked contrast to the preceding sunset. Breakfast over at half- 



