een
track and came into a great hollow directly facing them; and a couple of
hundred feet overhead, a narrow rift, out of which poured an amber
stream of water on to a huge block of rock some twenty feet below, the
result being that the great spout of amber water was broken and turned
into a sheet of foam, which spread out all over the great block, and
fell sheer the rest of the distance, over a hundred and fifty feet, into
a vast hollow below. Here it careered round and round, and rushed
onward toward where the group were standing, while high above all
floated a cloud of fine vapour which resembled white smoke, and upon
which played the iridescent colours of half a rainbow, completing the
picture in a way which made Max watch it in silent delight.

"Well, what do you think of it?" said Kenneth, who was amused by the
London lad's rapt manner.

"Eh? think?" said Max, starting and colouring.

"Yes. What were you thinking?"

"I was wishing that it was mine--all my own, so that I could come and
sit here and think."

"Well, you may come here and sit and think, but it never will be yours.
It has always belonged to the Mackhais ever since they conquered the
Mackalps, and took it with claymore and targe. There was a tremendous
fight up above there, and, as my ancestors cut down the Mackalps, they
threw them into the stream at the top, and there they were shot out over
the fall, and carried right out to sea."

"How horrible!"

"Horrible? Why, it was all considered very brave and grand, and we are
very proud of it. There's a sword down at the castle that they say was
used in the great fight."

"And are you proud of it?"

"I don't know. I suppose so. Does seem queer, though, to chop chaps
with swords and pitch 'em into the water. Rather an awkward place to
come down, wouldn't it, Max?"

"Awful!"

"Well, never mind talking about it. Come up and see."

"What! climb up there?"

"To be sure. Oh, you needn't be afraid. It's quite safe. You go up
that narrow path, and get round in among those birch trees, and that
brings you out by the top."

"I--"

"Oh, don't come if you're scared," said Kenneth contemptuously.

Max rose from the stone upon which he had been seated.

"I'm ready," he said.

"Well, you are a rum chap, Maxy," cried Kenneth, clapping him on the
shoulder. "Sometimes I think you are the jolliest coward I ever saw,
and sometimes I think you've got plenty of pluck. Which is it?"

"I'm a