across, I must needs change my direction to go about the end of it. It

was still the roughest kind of walking; indeed the whole, not only of

Earraid, but of the neighbouring part of Mull (which they call the Ross)

is nothing but a jumble of granite rocks with heather in among. At first

the creek kept narrowing as I had looked to see; but presently to my

surprise it began to widen out again. At this I scratched my head,

but had still no notion of the truth: until at last I came to a rising

ground, and it burst upon me all in a moment that I was cast upon a

little barren isle, and cut off on every side by the salt seas.

Instead of the sun rising to dry me, it came on to rain, with a thick

mist; so that my case was lamentable.

I stood in the rain, and shivered, and wondered what to do, till it

occurred to me that perhaps the creek was fordable. Back I went to the

narrowest point and waded in. But not three yards from shore, I plumped

in head over ears; and if ever I was heard of more, it was rather by

God's grace than my own prudence. I was no wetter (for that could hardly

be), but I was all the colder for this mishap; and having lost another

hope was the more unhappy.

And now, all at once, the yard came in my head. What had carried me

through the roost would surely serve me to cross this little quiet creek

in safety. With that I set off, undaunted, across the top of the isle,

to fetch and carry it back. It was a weary tramp in all ways, and if

hope had not buoyed me up, I must have cast myself down and given up.

Whether with the sea salt, or because I was growing fevered, I was

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