"You don't know this country, Jack ?" "Only by its songs, Mr.Starr," replied Jack; "and judging by those, it must be grand." "So it is, so it is!" cried the engineer, "and our dear Nell shall see it to the best advantage." A steamboat, the SINCLAIR by name, awaited tourists about to make the excursion to the lakes.

Nell and her companions went on board.

The day had begun in brilliant sunshine, free from the British fogs which so often veil the skies.
The passengers were determined to lose none of the beauties of nature to be displayed during the thirty miles' voyage.

Nell, seated between James Starr and Harry, drank in with every faculty the magnificent poetry with which lovely Scottish scenery is fraught.

Numerous small isles and islets soon appeared, as though thickly sown on the bosom of the lake.
The SINCLAIR steamed her way among them, while between them glimpses could be had of quiet valleys, or wild rocky gorges on the mainland.
"Nell," said James Starr, "every island here has its legend, perhaps its song, as well as the mountains which overshadow the lake.