not forced its way. But a passage has been cut across, called the Crinan Canal, to save persons going to Oban the long and stormy journey round the Mull of Cantire.

4. Passing through the Crinan Canal into Loch Fyne, our direct way would be southward, towards Arran. But it is worth while to turn round to the left, and go through another narrow passage, between the island of Bute and the mainland; this is called the Kyles of Bute. In going round Scotland you have learnt many new names for narrow pieces of water. You have not once heard the word Strait; but, instead of it, you have had the Pentland Firth, the Sound of Harris, and Sleat, and Jura, the Minch, and now the Kyles of Bute. This word Kyle is not so common, though it is used in some other places where I did not stop to notice it. Winding our way through the Kyles, we pass the town of Rothesay; you can see how the mountains shelter it from the cold north and east winds. Though it is so far north, it is said to have a milder climate than any place in England, except those on the South Coast.

X. ROTHESAY TO THE SOLWAY.

I. WE are now in the Firth of Clyde, the great opening on the Western coast, which answers to the Firth of Forth on the East. You can see on the map that these two firths are very nearly opposite each other. Here is the narrowest part of Scotland; and so, when the Romans wished to keep back the wild people of the north, it was from the Forth to the Clyde that they built a strong wall. The Clyde does not make quite so wide an opening as the Forth; but it is much busier and more crowded with shipping, because there are large manufacturing towns close to it, and also because it is a favourite quarter for visitors in summer. I can only point out to you two of the many watering-places on the right bank of the Firth-our left hand, as we sail up itDunoon and Helensburgh. Between them is the

entrance to Loch Long.

2. A few miles above Helensburgh is Dumbarton Castle, a famous old fortress, standing on a rock.

3. Now cross over and turn down the Firth. Here is Greenock, the great seaport of the Clyde, and famous for ship-building. After this, comes another set of small watering-places; and then

facing us is the island of Arran. Look well at those mountains: they are not very high-the

highest, Goatfell, is not quite 2,900 feet, 300 less than the highest in Skye. But, among all the lofty mountains of Scotland, you will not find any sharper peaks or more beautiful forms. The rocks are very hard: Goatfell itself is of granite, like that in Aberdeenshire.

4. Just as we are leaving the Clyde, we see for an hour or two, right in the middle of the estuary, a rock standing alone: this is Ailsa Craig, and marks the entrance of the Firth.

'There's a large steamer!' cries Johnny; 'have we not seen it before?'

'Yes! It is a Liverpool and Greenock packet: where have we seen it? Don't you remember, as we came round the Isle of Man, we saw it in the distance, and before that we saw it nearer, going towards Douglas harbour? It is the same—very likely "The Owl"-I know it well. But now we know where we are-in the old track, only farther to the northward.

5. 'Now go to sleep; it is night time. We may sweep by the coast of Ayrshire, Wigtonshire, and Kirkcudbrightshire in the dark: there is not much to be seen. We have passed the Mull of Galloway, and the mouths of Luce and Wigton Bays: as day breaks, we are floating up with the strong tide in smoother water. There is another old friend!

Do you know him? Why, that is Criffel, and we are in the Solway. We have gone clear round in our two voyages, this year and last; and

now we know for certain that there is water everywhere, and that Great Britain is really an island.'