2o8 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS chap. 



river in full flood can imagine, carrying with it every kind of 

 debris that its course could produce. 



At eleven o'clock at night, when looking at it by the light 

 of a brilliant northern moon (every cloud having long disap- 

 peared), we found that the water had already begun to subside, 

 though it still roared on with great fury. On the opposite 

 rocks we could see many a mountain burn as they glanced in 

 the moonlight. Every bird and animal was at rest, excepting 

 a couple of owls answering each other with loud hootings, which 

 were plainly heard above the noise of the waters. 



The friend I was with being obliged to go home the next 

 day, I determined also to wend my way to the low country, and 

 to follow the river till I reached my own house. 



We started on horseback very early. Nothing could exceed 

 the beauty of the morning, and everything, animate and inani- 

 mate, seemed to smile rejoicingly. The Findhorn had returned 

 to its usual size, and danced merrily in the sunshine. The 

 streams on the opposite cliffs were again like silver threads, and 

 the sheep were winding along the narrow paths on the face of 

 the rocks, the animals looking to us as if they were walking, 

 like flies, on the very face of the perpendicular cliffs. We saw 

 a flock of some thirty or so making their way in single file along 

 these paths : while we watched them they came to a place where 

 their road was broken up by the yesterday's torrents. We could 

 not understand what they would do. The path was evidently 

 too narrow to turn; and, as well as we could see with our 

 glasses, to proceed was impossible. However, after a short halt 

 the leader sprang over the obstacle, whatever it was, and alighted 

 safely on the opposite side. The least false step would have 

 sent him down many hundred feet. However, they all got 

 over in safety, and having filed away for some little distance 

 slowly along the face of the precipice, they came to a small 

 green shelf, apparently only a few yards square, the object pf 

 all their risk and labour. As fast as they got on this they dis- 

 persed, and commenced feeding quickly about it. We did not 

 wait to see them return, as we had a long day's journey before 

 us. Behind the house the hill seemed alive with grouse, crow- 

 ing in the morning sun. My hound came out baying joyously 

 to see me, and we started on our day's journey. Our road took 

 us through birch-woods, fragrant from the yesterday's rain, and 



