THE HOPE 45 



wide. Of course on tliis day the heavy boat was on the other side, 

 and as it was a dead calm, it was a case of patience while they 

 rowed back. When at length the boat touched shore the luggage 

 was quickly stowed away, and there seemed every prospect of a 

 long pull across. As we started, however, there came a sound as of 

 a gigantic boiliag kettle, and a few seconds later half a gale was 

 coming off the sides of Fionavon directly down the loch. Up 

 went our sail, and lucky now that our craft was stoutly built, for 

 it took us five tacks and nearly two hours to reach the opposite 

 shore, and though there was a trap from Durness Hotel waiting 

 to take us the remaining seven miles of the road, it was long past 

 midnight before we reached that comfortable quarter. 



