The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Scenes of Long Ago. 295
from her nest. Along the margin of those low-lying and
leafy dells, the loch rested upon a wide bed of white sand
and gravel, that sloped gently downwards into the black
profound, from whence glided numerous trout of every size,
to feed and disport themselves in the shallows, penetrated
in some degree by the light of day. Where the united
streams issued into Lochgoy, the water-, which before had
dashed over many a wild precipice, were now quite still, and
so transparent that the bottom of the pool, which was of
considerable depth, seemed close to the surface. This was
the Bathing Pool. It must be confessed that those pure
waters were always gelid, even after the hottest day in midsummer.
And no wonder, for they were the offspring of
melting snow in the high corries, and of the deep mountain
wells, whose temperature never changed.
The Goblin burn flowed, or rather poured, out of Corrie
Goblin, and, descending rapidly, made its course at right
angles with the lake. The loud noise of its cascades could
be heard within the house of Glenbeltane. Thus it was
usually che last sound that fell upon my ear at night, and
how often has it mingled with my dreams !
The Beltane was a much less turbulent stream. The
little valley through which it took its way was formed by a
low range of hills, which lay between Lochgoy and the
lofty mountains that enclosed Corrie Goblin. Singularly
well adapted for all pastoral purposes, it was especially
valuable during the lambing season, on account of the hazel
wood that clothed its slopes aloft, affording shelter to the
younglings of the flock from the sleety storms which then
prevail, and encouraging an early vegetation that swelled
the udders of the ewes. In olden times the people of
Inverbeltane had their shealings near the head of this
gentle glen. There, where the rivulet flows smoothly, with
many a sudden bend, through that sweet upland glade,
whose surrounding boscage invites the frequent stay of
mavis and wood-pigeon, may be traced the remains of the