Page:Footsteps of Dr. Johnson.djvu/272

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212
RETURN TO CORRICHATACHIN.

through it. A ride of a few more miles brought the party, through the gloom of evening, to Sconser, where they dined at the little inn.

Corrichatachin to Tobermorie (September 25—October 16).

At Sconser our travellers took boat for Strolimus, on their way to the friendly farmhouse at Corrichatachin, where they had been

ON THE ROAD TO SCONSER.

so hospitably received nearly three weeks earlier. Their horses they sent round a point of land to meet them further down the coast.

"It was seven o'clock," writes Boswell, "when we got into our boat. We had many showers, and it soon grew pretty dark. Dr. Johnson sat silent and patient. Once he said, as he looked on the black coast of Skye—black, as being composed of rocks seen in the dusk—'This is very solemn.' Our boatmen were rude singers, and seemed so like wild Indians, that a very little imagination was necessary to give one an impression of being upon an American river. We landed at Strolimus, from whence we got a guide to walk before us, for two miles, to Corrichatachin. Not being able to procure a horse for our baggage, I took one portmanteau before me, and Joseph another. We had but a single star to light us on our way. It was about eleven when we arrived. We were most hospitably received by the master and mistress, who were just going to bed, but, with unaffected ready kindness, made a good fire, and at twelve o'clock at night had supper on the table."