Untitled - Beeldbibliotheek

82 CARAVAN DAYSwith short turf, and rising to a height of perhapstwenty feet above the drive. Herbert gatheredup the reins, and calling on the small knot ofspectators, who had collected to welcome us, tostand aside, drove boldly to the top of it. Therein a commanding posture SIEGLINDA came to rest.Flat, open country, quite bare of trees, with apleasant, scattered group of cottages and a postoffice think of the triumphant telegrams thathave been sent from it ! a sturdy little barehotel these :comprise the outlook on the landwardside. But out to sea there is a noble viewof the fine outline of the Orkneys near at hand,and nearer still the intermediate island of Stromaand the Skerries ;while far awayround thecorner of the Orkney cliffs lies the hazy outlineof the Shetlands. It is a charming aspect,enlivened by the bustling traffic of the PentlandFirth, where dangerous currents sweep round thecorner of the mainland. And the beach itself ispleasant sand and shingle, with ridingboats atanchor and a little pier, and much disorderedtackle of the lobster fishing, whose operations wewatched from our windows.We had high good fortune in the weather, forthe clouds had rolled away, the wind had fallenand the evening lights among the islands to the