The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

736 7 he Highland Monthly.
that frowned darkly above our heads far up the sideof Coulmore,
and had rolled down to the edge of the loch. Here
it stood, overlooking a dark pool several feet deep, where,
according to tradition, the abyss had opened its fatal jaws
and swallowed up the ill-fated girl.
I had often been told that Robert Gordon was well
versed in folklore, and that his fund of legends and traditions
was simply inexhaustible ; but though I had on several
occasions before now met him I never had the much longed
for opportunity of having a quiet conversation with him.
This morning he seemed to be in an unusually happy mood
for my purpose, so I determined to take advantage of the
occasion.
The absence of any wind precluded the very idea of
fishing. The surface of the lake before us still wore its
glassy aspect ; not a cloud darkened the blue vault above
our heads ; the sheep and cattle on the surrounding hills
overcome by the oppressive heat of the mid-day sun, had
lain down among the brackens, or in the shade of large
boulders, and were lazily chewing the cud or, perchance,
dreaming of fertile plains and rich pastures ; the concert in
the grove behind us had suddenly ceased, and all Nature
seemed to be enjoying a tranquil siesta.
I produced my flask and offered some of its contents to
my companion, who, despite the warmth of the hour, drank
it " neat ;" I then followed suit, diluting mine, however, with
water from the rivulet I have already mentioned. Next I
lit my pipe, and my companion helped himself to several
pinches of snuff from his ever-serviceable silver box, and I
was on the point of making some remark when a peculiar
noise behind caused us both to turn round to see several
rabbits scamper off in all directions as if they had been
suddenly startled by some unexpected cause. I could not
account for this strange behaviour on the part of the rabbits,
and I turned to my companion for an explanation. " Let
us go to yonder hillock," he said, " something has frightened
the rabbits, and I am almost sure it's a weasel." On getting
,