of more shelter and security. Stones, or rather large masses and fragments of rocks, of a composite kind, perfectly different from the strata of the lake, were scattered upon the bare rocky beach, in the strangest and most precarious situations, as if abandoned by the torrents which had borne them down from above. Some lay loose and tottering upon the ledges of the natural rock, with so little security, that the slightest push moved them, though their weight might exceed many tons. These detached rocks, or stones, were chiefly what is called plum-pudding stones. The bare rocks, which formed the shore of the lakes, were a species of granite. The opposite side of the lake seemed quite pathless and inaccessible, as a huge mountain, one of the detached ridges of the Cuillen Hills, sinks in a profound and perpendicular precipice down to the water. On the left-hand side, which we traversed, rose an higher and equally inaccessible mountain, the top of which strongly resembled the shivered crater of an exhausted volcano. I never saw a spot in which there was less appearance of vegetation of any kind. The eye rested on nothing but barren and naked crags, and the rocks on which we walked by the side of the loch, were as bare as the pavements of Cheapside. There are one or two small islets in the loch, which seem to bear juniper or some such low bushy shrub. Upon the whole, though I have seen many scenes of more extensive desolation, I never witnessed any in which it pressed more deeply upon the eye and the heart than at Loch Corisken ; at the same time that its grandeur elevated and redeemed it from the wild and dreary character of utter barrenness." Note IV. Men were they all of evil mien, Down-look'd, unwilling to be seen.-P. 109. The story of Bruce's meeting the banditti is copied, with such alterations as the fictitious narrative rendered necessary, from a striking incident in the monarch's history, told by Barbour, and which I will give in the words of the hero's biographer, only modernizing the orthography. It is the sequel to the adventure of the blood-hound, narrated in Note XIX. upon Canto II. It will be remembered that the narrative broke off, leaving the Bruce escaped from his pursuers, but worn out with fatigue, and having no other attendant but his fosterbrother. And the good king held forth his way, * Neck. They meet the king, and halsed him there. And the king them their haulsing yauld ;+ And asked whether they would? They said, Robert the Bruce they sought; All be your selven furth go. And on the same wish we two Shall follow behind, well near." *Saluted. + Make. Kill him. ↑ Returned their salute. § Gesture or manner. Therefore. Quoth they," Sir, it is no mister* To trow in us any ill." "None do I," said he;" but I will That ye go forth thus, while we Better with other knowen be." "We grant," they said," since ye will so." At a fire, and they all three On no wise with them together be. They drew them in the house end, *There is no need. † Husbandman's house, cottage. *Alone. And had right much travel made; 66 May I trust in thee, me to awake, "Ya, sir," he said, "till I may dree." The king then winked a little way, But glanced up oft suddenly, For he had dread of these three men, * Bellies. † Becomes. + Fatigued. Endure. § Bird on bough. |