banks of wood were broken by corn-fields, which this year presented an abundant harvest, already in a great measure cut down.

"On the opposite bank of the river, and partly surrounded by a winding of its stream, stood a large and massive castle, the halfruined turrets of which were already glittering in the first rays of the sun. It was in form an oblong square, of size sufficient to contain a large court in the centre. The towers at each angle of the square rose higher than the walls of the building, and were in their turn surmounted by turrets, differing in height, and irregular in shape. Upon one of these a sentinel watched, whose bonnet and plaid, streaming in the wind, declared him to be a Highlander, as a broad white ensign, which floated from another tower, announced that the garrison was held by the insurgent adherents of the House of Stuart.

"Passing hastily through a small and mean town, where their appearance excited neither surprise nor curiosity in the few peasants whom the labours of the harvest began to summon from their repose, the party crossed an ancient and narrow bridge of several arches, and turning to the left, up an avenue of huge old sycamores, Waverley found himself in front of the gloomy yet picturesque structure which he had admired at a distance. A huge iron-grated door, which formed the exterior defence of the gateway, was already thrown back to receive them; and a second, heavily constructed of oak, and studded thickly with iron nails, being next opened, admitted them into the interior court-yard. A gentleman dressed in the Highland garb, and having a white cockade in his bonnet, assisted Waverley to dismount from his horse, and with much courtesy bid him welcome to the castle.

"The governor-for so we must term him-having conducted Waverley to a half-ruinous apartment, where, however, there was a small camp-bed, and having offered him any refreshment which he desired, was then about to leave him.

"Will you not add to your civilities,' said Waverley, after having made the usual acknowledgment, 'by having the kindness to inform me where I am, and whether or not I am to consider myself as a prisoner?'

"I am not at liberty to be so explicit upon this subject as I could wish. Briefly, however, you are in the Castle of Doune, in the district of Menteith, and in no danger whatever.'

"And how am I assured of that?'

66 6

By the honour of Donald Stewart, governor of the garrison, and lieutenant-colonel in the service of his Royal Highness Prince Charles Edward.' So saying, he hastily left the apartment, as if to avoid further discussion.

Exhausted by the fatigues of the night, our hero now threw upon the bed, and was in a few minutes fast asleep."

himself

LOCH KATRINE.

OCH KATRINE possesses a double interest for the visitor. It is the scene of one of the most charming of romances, and of one of the greatest triumphs of modern engineering skill. This combination is not a very happy one. The sight-seer who only goes to Loch Katrine for the sake of the scenery, and cares for nothing more prosaic than an attempt to identify every situation in the Lady of the Lake, must be disappointed in many particulars. He can find nothing which will answer to the Goblin Cave. No tale of real life is connected with the place. The very name which sounds so pretty is in all probability the result of the very bad character the lake once had as the refuge and abode of "caterans," or freebooters. There are several other lakes in Scotland, and even within a short distance of Loch Katrine, which not only equal, but excel it in beauty. Yet such is the subtle charm which Scott has thrown over it, that every turn of the surrounding paths, every tree almost, every view, and many things which in another place would be quite destitute of interest, are here invested with a power to touch the imagination and even the heart of thousands. Whatever disappointment we may feel at the place itself is more than compensated by the pleasure to be derived in a fresh reading of Scott's delightful poem. When we have seen the locality it describes, we return with renewed admiration to the