166 AMID THE HIGH HILLS 
and some of them would probably cross the 
rocks on which I was waiting. 
It was a fairly quiet though misty day when we 
set out, but there were clouds gathering in the 
east, and it looked as if there would be a storm 
before long. In due course I was landed on the 
little island, which was quite small and consisted 
of low-lying rocks. I said to my old fisherman, 
who with another man was rowing the boat, 
" Are you sure that these rocks are never covered 
by the sea? " and he replied, " Ach, no, it is arl 
richt." 
Away went the boat, and in it besides the two 
men rowing were an old friend of mine, who was 
a cautious Scot, and two ladies. 
Not long after it was out of sight the wind 
rose and rain began to fall. After a time some 
duck passed out of shot, then a single bird which 
I killed, then after another interval a big lot well 
out of shot, and then at intervals two single birds, 
one of which I brought down. The spaniel had 
enough to do to retrieve the birds with the strong 
tide and high wind. Just after this a storm of 
wind and rain swept down the loch, and the sea 
became very wild. I was still thinking about the 
duck, but felt no anxiety after what the old 
