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 Lambert's Hotel.There a good breakfast restored their strength, and they began to makefurther plans for an excursion to the Highland lakes.
Nell was now refreshed, and able to look boldly forth into the sunshine,while her lungs with ease inhaled the free and healthful air. Her eyeslearned gladly to know the harmonious varieties of color as they restedon the green trees, the azure skies, and all the endless shades oflovely flowers and plants.
The railway train, which they entered at the Waverley Station, conveyedNell and her friends to Glasgow. There, from the new bridge across theClyde, they watched the curious sea-like movement of the river. Aftera night's rest at Comrie's Royal Hotel, they betook themselves to theterminus of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, from whence a train wouldrapidly carry them, by way of Dumbarton and Balloch, to the southernextremity of Loch Lomond.
"Now for the land of Rob Roy and Fergus MacIvor!--the sceneryimmortalized by the poetical descriptions of Walter Scott," exclaimedJames Starr. "You don't know this country, Jack?"
"Only by its songs, Mr. Starr," replied Jack; "and judging by those, itmust be grand."
"So it is, so it is!" cried the engineer, "and our dear Nell shall seeit to the best advantage."
A steamboat, the SINCLAIR by name, awaited tourists about to make theexcursion to the lakes. Nell and her companions went on board. The dayhad begun in brilliant sunshine, free from the British fogs which sooften veil the skies.
The passengers were determined to lose none of the beauties of nature tobe displayed during the thirty miles' voyage. Nell, seated between JamesStarr and Harry, drank in with every faculty the magnificent poetrywith which lovely Scottish scenery is fraught. Numerous small isles andislets soon appeared, as though thickly sown on the bosom of the lake.The SINCLAIR steamed her way among them, while between them glimpsescould be had of quiet valleys, or wild rocky gorges on the mainland.
"Nell," said James Starr, "every island here has its legend, perhapsits song, as well as the mountains which overshadow the lake. One may,without much exaggeration, say that the history of this country iswritten in gigantic characters of mountains and islands."
Nell listened, but these fighting stories made her sad. Why all thatbloodshed on plains which to her seemed enormous, and where surely theremust have been room for everybody?
The shores of the lake form a little harbor at Luss. Nell could for amoment catch sight of the old tower of its ancient castle. Then, theSINCLAIR turning northward, the tourists gazed upon Ben Lomond, toweringnearly 3,000 feet above the level of the lake.
"Oh, what a noble mountain!" cried Nell; "what a view there must be fromthe top!"
"Yes, Nell," answered James Starr; "see how haughtily its peak risesfrom amidst the thicket of oaks, birches, and heather, which clothe thelower portion of the mountain! From thence one may see two-thirds of oldCaledonia. This eastern side of the lake was the special abode of theclan McGregor. At no great distance, the struggles of the Jacobites andHanoverians repeatedly dyed with blood these lonely glens. Over thesescenes shines the pale moon, called in old ballads 'Macfarlane'slantern.' Among these rocks still echo the immortal names of Rob Roy andMcGregor Campbell."
As the SINCLAIR advanced along the base of the mountain, the countrybecame more and more abrupt in character. Trees were only scatteredhere and there; among them were the willows, slender wands of which wereformerly used for hanging persons of low degree.
"To economize hemp," remarked James Starr.
The lake narrowed very much as it stretched northwards.
The steamer passed a few more islets, Inveruglas, Eilad-whow, wherestand some ruins of a stronghold of the clan MacFarlane. At length thehead of the loch was reached, and the SINCLAIR stopped at Inversnaid.
Leaving Loch Arklet on the left, a steep ascent led to the Inn ofStronachlacar, 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 onboard; it was about to start. Loch Katrine is only ten miles in length;its width never exceeds two miles. The hills nearest it are full of acharacter peculiar to themselves.
"Here we are on this famous lake," said James Starr. "It has beencompared to an eel on account of its length and windings: and justly so.They say that it never freezes. I know nothing about that, but what wewant to think of is, that here are the scenes of the adventures in theLady of the Lake. I believe, if friend Jack looked about him carefully,he might see, still gliding over the surface of the water, the shade ofthe slender form of sweet Ellen Douglas."
"To be sure, Mr. Starr," replied Jack; "why should I not? I may just aswell see that pretty girl on the waters of Loch Katrine, as those uglyghosts on Loch Malcolm in the coal pit."
It was by this time three o'clock in the afternoon. The less hillyshores of Loch Katrine westward extended like a picture framed betweenBen An and Ben Venue. At the distance of half a mile was the entrance tothe narrow bay, where was the landing-place for our tourists, who meantto return to Stirling by Callander.
Nell appeared completely worn out by the continued excitement of theday. A faint ejaculation was all she was able to utter in token ofadmiration as new objects of wonder or beauty met her gaze. She requiredsome hours of rest, were it but to impress lastingly the recollection ofall she had seen.
Her hand rested in Harry's, and, looking earnestly at her, he said,"Nell, dear Nell, we shall soon be home again in the gloomy region ofthe coal mine. Shall you not pine for what you have seen during thesefew hours spent in the glorious light of day?"
"No, Harry," replied the girl; "I shall like to think about it, but I amglad to go back with you to our dear old home."
"Nell!" said Harry, vainly attempting to steady his voice, "are youwilling to be bound to me by the most sacred tie? Could you marry me,Nell?"
"Yes, Harry, I could, if you are sure that I am able to make you happy,"answered the maiden, raising her innocent eyes to his.
Scarcely had she pronounced these words when an unaccountable phenomenontook place. The Rob Roy, still half a mile from land, experienced aviolent shock. She suddenly grounded. No efforts of the engine couldmove her.
The cause of this accident was simply that Loch Katrine was all at onceemptied, as though an enormous fissure had opened in its bed. In a fewseconds it had the appearance of a sea beach at low water. Nearly thewhole of its contents had vanished into the bosom of the earth.
"My friends!" exclaimed James Starr, as the cause of this marvel becamesuddenly clear to him, "God help New Aberfoyle!"