One may, without much exaggeration, say that the history of this country is written in gigantic characters of mountains and islands." Nell listened, but these fighting stories made her sad.

Why all that bloodshed on plains which to her seemed enormous, and where surely there must have been room for everybody?
The shores of the lake form a little harbor at Luss.

Nell could for a moment catch sight of the old tower of its ancient castle.

Then, the SINCLAIR turning northward, the tourists gazed upon Ben Lomond, towering nearly 3,000 feet above the level of the lake.
"Oh, what a noble mountain!" cried Nell; "what a view there must be from the top!" "Yes, Nell," answered James Starr; "see how haughtily its peak rises from amidst the thicket of oaks, birches, and heather, which clothe the lower portion of the mountain! From thence one may see two-thirds of old Caledonia.

This eastern side of the lake was the special abode of the clan McGregor.