Untitled - Beeldbibliotheek

232 CARAVAN DAYSbegan the descent to Achnasheen. But longbefore we reached our destination at the CorrugatedCamp it was coming down again in sheets,so that we could hear the iron shed resoundingafar off to the lashing of the drops. We drew into the Eastern side, where we were excellentlysheltered, and it rained all night.But that was the last of it, and as soon as thespate had spent itself there was no looking back.We entered at once upon a spell of warm, stilldays. That was early in June. A most startlingchange had come over the country when we cameSouth in the autumn. For the great droughtwas then at its height. The crops between Dunkeldand Pitlochry were most pitiful, and everywherethere was shortage of water ;even therushing torrent of the Garry was reduced to asuccession of almost stagnant pools.The grocerin Dunkeld, as he sliced the bacon with hisguillotine knife, assured me that such a seasonfor weather had never been known in these parts.In January they had had to endure the heaviestsnowfall within recent years, which had seriouslydamaged the trees and blocked up some of theyoung woods for a month or more. In May camethe floods, when the Tay twice overflowed itsbanks and devastated the country, and now they