Midsummer at the Wells of Dee 



yjirds from the summit, we made our way this day to the low 

 ground by the rough and boulder-strewn ridge between Coire 

 Ruadh and Coire Bennaidh. High above us an eagle, com- 

 ing from the hill-top, shot at great speed towards the Lairig, 

 and in the glen below hinds were grazing. In Coire an 

 Lochan an exceptional amount of snow still remained. In- 

 deed, the western part of the corrie was almost entirely white, 

 and the snow extended to within a few yards of the loch. At 

 the foot of Coire Ruadh there had apparently been more 

 snow than usual, for the heather was still lying flat on the 

 ground, and it seemed doubtful whether it would recover that 

 season. At quite 2,500 feet we passed a Scots pine about 

 two feet high, healthy and sturdy in its shelter amongst the 

 boulders. 



Full summer was now come to the hills, and soon the stags 

 would feed up on to the high tops to graze upon the succulent 

 grass. As yet, however, they had not wandered thus far, and 

 except for the ptarmigan and an occasional hind, the tops 

 were given over to the grey mists that shroud them for days 

 on end, and to the winds that, even at this season of mid- 

 summer, so often sweep their storm-scarred summits or sigh 

 and eddy across their dark and gloomy precipices. 



85 



