The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-09-10
Loeb katrine.
BY THE REV. Il. UARCOUHT.

Lady Of the Luxe, the fame of which ha
spread the wide world over.
In size, Loeb Katrine is ten miles il
length, with breadth in some places o
about two miles, while in others it is only
wide enough for the wheels of the little
steamer to play. For beauty and variety
of scenery, Katrine is unsurpassed. Here
every prospect is pleasing and life-giving
Massive headlands, with gray rocks dip
ping down to kiss the crystal waters
deep, retiring bays, with beaches covered
with snow-white sand, the result of the
bleaching process of the ages; rugged cliff:
running up on every side, covered with
verdure, which seems to grow on the
rock. Every grove is filled with song
every crevice has its echo; and from fal
and near is heard the bleating of sheep,
and the cry of the mountain shepherd OF
the bark of his faithful dog.
Our way of access to the lake was on the
eastern side, through narrow, circuitou,
path, about half mile in length. Over
hanging this winding detile are weeping
birches, whose stringy tresses reach so low
bear the appearance of mourners in wild
owed sorrow for the dear departed of Other
days. 1t was in this lonely mountain-path
according to Sir Walter, that the Scotch
troops, under Earl Moray, were led tc
pause, as if some danger was nigh. AnG
while thus waiting, not knowing we'll what
to dc for the best,
"Thcre rose so long and wide yell
Within the dark and narrow dell,
AS all the fiends from heaven that fell
Had peeled the banner cry of hell!
Forth from the pass in tunult driven,
Like chaff before the wind of heaven,
The archery appear;
For life! for life! their flight they ply
And shrek, and shout, and battle-cry,
And plaids and bOnnets waving high,
And broadswords flashing in the sky,
Are maddening in the rear.
Onward they drive in dreadful race,
Pursuers and pursued"
AS we glided over Katrine's silver water,
our interest heightened, and each object
became life-like with romantic interest and
story. Indeed, it is almost impossible fol-
ters earliest and freshest poems to keep
himself from falling into the idea that the
accounts therein given are real transac-
lions. All along we found ourselves look
ing anxiously and inquiringly for local
habitation for each varying image of the
poets brain. Here the "dying moan and
dirges wall" may still be heard, or the
rocks resounding to the praise of its chief,
chanted by the voices of hundred clans
men. On our right lay Helen's Isle, from
which the blast of the Knight Of Snow
doun's bugle called out the little skiff which
carried Helen Douglas to ''the beach of peb-
bles bright as snow This also is said tc
be the island where the Clan-Alpine wo,
men and children came for refuge. Tt
this
"Moray pointed with his lance,
And cried, Behold yon isle !
See. none are left to guard its strand
But women weak that wiring the hand.
IT'S there of yore the robber-hand
Their booty wont to pile.
My purse, with bonnet-pieces store,
To him will swim bow-shoot DER,
| And loose shallop from the shore.
| Lightly we'll the war-wolf then,
| Lords of his mate, and brood and den"
Forth from the ranks spearman sprung
| On earth his casque and corslet rung,
He plunged into the wave.
|
"1Ie nears the isle, and 10 !!
His hand is on the shallep's bow.
marked Duncraggan's widowed dame;
Behind an oak | saw her stand,
A naked dirk cleaned in her hand;
| 1t darkened, but amid the moan
OF waves heard a dying groan.'
| Indeed, every sight in and about thi
lake is made memorable by the poet.
fancy, and is carefully pointed out by thu
guides, who know the whole poem b.
heart.
While journeying up the Loeb, our at
tention was directed to the spot where thu
king climbed down the rock in pursuit o
the stag, and where he passed the nigh
wrapped in his Highland plaid; and where
just at break of day, he had the first sigh
of the beautiful Mountain Queen:
"The boat had touched this silver strand
Just as the hunter left his stand,
And stood concealed amid the brake,
To view the Lady of the Lake.
The maiden paused as if again
She thought to catch the distant strain.
With head appraised and look intent,
The eye and ear attentive bent,
And locks flung back and lips apart,
Like monument of Grecian art,
In listening mood she seemed to stand,
The guardian naiad of the strand"
On our left, rising high overhead, i
Benvenue, the highest of the neighborins
mountains, as well as the most celebrated
of the Highlands. Its name signifie
"Small Mountain" but this can only b'
applied when speaking Of the loftier Ben
lomond and Benledi.
At the head of the lake we were shown
crevice, where Rob Roy, in 1908, held 70
three days and three nights Killarn, tn
chamberlain of the Duke of Montrose; and
after relieving him of all the rents whicl
he had collected for his master, set hin
again at liberty, with a receipt i'll hi
pocket for amount received.
On the west side we were shown the eel
ebrated Coir nam Uriskin, "Cave of tn
Goblins," which has not a little space il
Highland tradition. 1t is simply deep
upright cash in the base of Benvenue, over
hanging the lake. At the top, it is abou
two hundred feet in diameter, and OF
either side are strewn innumerable frag
ments Of stone, overshadowed with asl
and birch trees, matiha almost impsne
trable to the rays of TIFF sun-a fit plac
for the haunt of the banditti and outlaw.
The Urisks," from whom the name o
this wild shelter is derived, were supposed
to be a race of "wild or shaggy men, ant
Sir Walter says they were figure "be
tween goat and a man; in short, how
ever much the classical reader may b
startled, precisely that of the Grecial
satyr."
Whatever may be our belief in tn
legends connected with Loeb Katrine, w
cannot fail to see in their absolute and per