o go and visit the
castle. A boy went with them from the inn to show them the way. He led
them down the street of the village, to a house where he said the man
lived who "had the fishing" of the loch. It seems that the loch,
including the right to fish in it, is private property, and that the
owner of it lets the fishing to a man in the village, and that he keeps
a boat to take visitors out to see the castle. So they went to the house
where this man lived. They explained what they wanted at the door, and
pretty soon a boatman came out, and went with them to the shore of the
pond. The way was through a wide green field, that had been formed out
of the bottom of the loch, by drawing off the water. When they came to
the shore they found a small pier there, with a boat fastened to it.
There was a small boat house near the pier. The boatman brought some
oars out of the boat house, and put them in the boat, and then they all
got in.

The morning was calm, and the loch was very smooth, and the boat glided
along very gently over the water. There was a great curve in the shore
near the pier, so that for some time the boat, though headed directly
for the island, which was in the middle of the loch, moved parallel to
the shore, and very near it. There was a smooth and beautiful green
field all the way along the shore, which sloped down gently to the
margin of the water. Beyond this field, which was not wide, there was a
road, and beyond the road there was a wall. Over the wall were to be
seen the trees of a great park; and presently the boat came opposite to
the gateway, through which the boys could see, as they sailed by, a
large and handsome stone house, or castle. The boatman said it was not
inhabited, because the owner of it was not yet of age.

After passing the house they came, before long, to the end of these
grounds, which formed a point projecting into the lake. There was a
small and very ancient-looking burying ground on the point. This burying
ground will be referred to hereafter; so do not forget it.

After passing this point of land, the boat, in her course towards the
castle, came out into the open loch--the little island on which the
ruins of the castle stand being in full view.

There was, however, yet a pretty broad sheet of open water to pass
before reaching the island.

[Illustration: LOCH LEVEN.]

"Now we have passed Cape Race," said Waldron, "and are striking out into
the open sea."

Cape Race is the