The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

732
Ihe Hio/iland Monthly.
peak ; still further in the same direction lofty Ben More
reared its hoary head against the blue sky. To the left,
Suilvein with its twin peaks rose proudly, , as if vying with
its neighbours in gracefulness of form, and uprightness of
stature, and immediately behind us Coulmore, rising
abruptly from the shores of the loch, shewed its majestic
slopes, on which we could see the " Antlered monarch of the
waste " roaming at his sweet will, undisturbed till the
Twelfth. These mountains, and many others not visible
from the spot where we were seated, rising precipitously
and individually from almost the sea level to the height of
nearly 3000 feet, present a most unique appearance, and
resemble a line of sentinels jealously guarding the approach
to Assynt. A balmy breeze murmured softly through the
small wood of birch, hazel, and mountain ash, immediately
behind us, and the sound blended harmoniously with the
singing of the mavis and the whistling of the blackbird. It
seemed like nature singing a trio. At times we could
hear the cry of the moor-cock, and the " oot by w-i-i-i-de,
lass," of the shepherd " resounded up the rocky way." A
tiny rivulet issuing from a small spring at our feet babbled
merrily as it flowed into the loch, whose glassy surface was
occasionally disturbed by a trout as it '' rose" to swallow an
unwary fly, forming several concentric circles that gradually
widened till the wavelets settled down and the loch had
•once more assumed its unruffled appearance. On all sides
we could see streams whose crystal waters sparkled like
diamonds in the sunlight, flowing down the mountain sides,
-and one stream—the Big River—larger than the rest,
formed a beautiful cascade, as it dashed itself down a per-
pendicular precipice into the Black Pool below.
Whilst I was contemplating this scene and drinking in
all its beauty, my companion spoke not a word but con-
tinued to gaze abstractedly towards the blue mountains in
the distance. He was to all appearance living in the past.
The song he was singing when J disturbed him had
•evidently awakened memories of long ago, and his imagina-
tive mind was no doubt colouring with a roseate hue scenes