"The boatman told her that there was no danger, and that, if I could
really row, I could help him so much that we should get across the part
of the lake where the wind blew and the waves run high so much the
sooner. So she consented at last, and I took one of the oars, and we
rowed across the loch in fine style. We pitched about a good deal in the
middle passage, and the lady was dreadfully frightened; but when we got
across the water became smooth, and we sailed very pleasantly along the
shore.

"The shores were winding and very pretty, and the farther we went the
narrower the lake became, and the mountains became higher and higher. At
last we came to a narrow place between two mountains, where the pass of
the Trossachs began. The mountain on one side was Ben Venue. The one on
the other side was Benan. The shores at the foot of these mountains were
covered with woods, and the place was very wild. There was an island in
the middle of the lake here, called Ellen's Isle. This island was high
and rocky, and covered with woods, like the shores adjacent to it.

"This island is very famous, on account of a poem that Walter Scott
wrote about it, called the Lady of the Lake. The lake was this Loch
Katrine, and the lady was Ellen. She went back and forth to the island
in a boat, in some way or other, but I do not know the story exactly.
Mr. George is going to buy the Lady of the Lake when we get to
Edinburgh, and read it to us, and then we shall know.

"The island is small and rocky, but it is so covered with trees and
bushes that we hardly see the rocks. They peep out here and there. The
banks rise very steep, and the water looks very deep close to the shore.
We sailed by the island, and then the water grew narrower and narrower,
until at last we were closely shut in, and then soon we came to the
landing.

"There was nothing but a hut at the landing, and a narrow road, which
began then and led down the valley. The valley was very narrow, and
there were steep rocks and mountains on both sides. They told us that it
was a mile and a quarter to the inn, and that there was no other way to
go but to walk. The boatman said that he would bring the baggage; so we
left it under his care, all except our knapsacks, and walked along.

"We walked about a mile down the valley, by a very winding road, with
rocks, and trees, and very high mountains on both sides. At last we came
in sight of a tall spire. I thought it was a church. In a