Chapter 16

           ThereisaregularferryfromTorosaytoKinlochalineonthemainland.BothshoresoftheSoundareinthecountryofthestrongclanoftheMacleans,andthepeoplethatpassedtheferrywithmewerealmostallofthatclan.Theskipperoftheboat,ontheotherhand,wascalledNeilRoyMacrob;andsinceMacrobwasoneofthenamesofAlan’sclansmen,andAlanhimselfhadsentmetothatferry,IwaseagertocometoprivatespeechofNeilRoy.

           Inthecrowdedboatthiswasofcourseimpossible,andthepassagewasaveryslowaffair.Therewasnowind,andastheboatwaswretchedlyequipped,wecouldpullbuttwooarsononeside,andoneontheother.Themengaveway,however,withagoodwill,thepassengerstakingspellstohelpthem,andthewholecompanygivingthetimeinGaelicboat-songs.Andwhatwiththesongs,andthesea-air,andthegood-natureandspiritofallconcerned,andthebrightweather,thepassagewasaprettythingtohaveseen.

           Buttherewasonemelancholypart.InthemouthofLochAlinewefoundagreatsea-goingshipatanchor;andthisIsupposedatfirsttobeoneoftheKing’scruiserswhichwerekeptalongthatcoast,bothsummerandwinter,topreventcommunicationwiththeFrench.Aswegotalittlenearer,itbecameplainshewasashipofmerchandise;andwhatstillmorepuzzledme,notonlyherdecks,butthesea-beachalso,werequiteblackwithpeople,andskiffswerecontinuallyplyingtoandfrobetweenthem.