Part 19 (1/2)
CHAPTER XV LOCH LOMOND AND LOCH KATRINE
HARRY bore Nell carefully down the steeps of Arthur's Seat, and, accompanied by James Starr and Jack Ryan, they reached Laood breakfast restored their strength, and they began to hland lakes
Nell was now refreshed, and able to look boldly forth into the sunshi+ne, while her lungs with ease inhaled the free and healthful air Her eyes learned gladly to know the harreen trees, the azure skies, and all the endless shades of lovely flowers and plants
The railway train, which they entered at the Waverley Station, conveyed Nell and her friends to Glasgow There, froe across the Clyde, they watched the curious sea-like ht's rest at Comrie's Royal Hotel, they betook theow Railway, from whence a train would rapidly carry them, by way of Dumbarton and Balloch, to the southern extremity of Loch Lous MacIvor!--the scenery immortalized by the poetical descriptions of Walter Scott,” exclaimed James Starr ”You don't know this country, Jack?”
”Only by its songs, Mr Starr,” replied Jack; ”and judging by those, it ineer, ”and our dear Nell shall see it to the best advantage”
A steamboat, the SINCLAIR by name, awaited tourists about to make the excursion to the lakes Nell and her coun in brilliant sunshi+ne, free fros which so often veil the skies
The passengers were determined to lose none of the beauties of nature to be displayed during the thirty e Nell, seated between Janificent poetry hich lovely Scottish scenery is fraught Nuh thickly sown on the boso thelies on the mainland
”Nell,” said Ja, as well as the mountains which overshadow the lake One eration, say that the history of this country is written in gigantic characters of hting stories made her sad Why all that bloodshed on plains which to her seemed enormous, and where surely there must have been room for everybody?
The shores of the lake forht of the old tower of its ancient castle Then, the SINCLAIR turning northward, the tourists gazed upon Ben Lo nearly 3,000 feet above the level of the lake
”Oh, what a noble mountain!” cried Nell; ”what a view there must be from the top!”
”Yes, Nell,” answered Jahtily its peak rises from amidst the thicket of oaks, birches, and heather, which clothe the lower portion of the mountain! From thence one may see two-thirds of old Caledonia This eastern side of the lake was the special abode of the clan McGregor At no great distance, the struggles of the Jacobites and Hanoverians repeatedly dyed with blood these lonely glens Over these scenes shi+nes the palethese rocks still echo the ior Ca the base of the mountain, the country became more and more abrupt in character Trees were only scattered here and there; a them were the s, slender wands of which were forree
”To economize hemp,” remarked James Starr
The lake narrowed very much as it stretched northwards
The stealas, Eilad-here stand soth the head of the loch was reached, and the SINCLAIR stopped at Inversnaid
Leaving Loch Arklet on the left, a steep ascent led to the Inn of Stronachlacar, on the banks of Loch Katrine
There, at the end of a light pier, floated a small steamboat, named, as a matter of course, the Rob Roy The travelers immediately went on board; it was about to start Loch Katrine is only ten th; its width never exceeds two miles The hills nearest it are full of a character peculiar to themselves
”Here we are on this famous lake,” said James Starr ”It has been cos: and justly so
They say that it never freezes I know nothing about that, but ant to think of is, that here are the scenes of the adventures in the Lady of the Lake I believe, if friend Jack looked about hi over the surface of the water, the shade of the slender forlas”
”To be sure, Mr Starr,” replied Jack; ”why should I not? I irl on the waters of Loch Katrine, as those ugly ghosts on Loch Malcolm in the coal pit”