rface of the water
came into view. Far out towards the centre of it was a small, low
island, covered with trees. In the midst of the trees the boys could see
the top of the ruin of a large, square tower. They asked the coachman if
that was Loch Leven Castle, and he said it was.

"Uncle George," said Rollo, leaning over and calling out to his uncle
inside, "there's the castle."

"Yes," said Mr. George, "I see it."

"It seems to me," said Rollo to Waldron, "that that is a very small
island to build a castle upon."

"Yes," said the coachman; "but it was a great deal smaller in the days
when the castle was inhabited. It was only just large enough then for
the castle itself, and for the castle garden. It is a great deal larger
now. The way it came to be larger was this. Some years ago the
proprietor cut down the outlet of the loch four feet deeper than it was
before; and that drew off four feet of water from the whole loch, and
of course all the places where the water was less than four feet deep
were laid bare. This enlarged the castle island a great deal, for before
the water was very shallow all around it. When the land became dry they
planted trees there, and now the ruins are in the midst of quite a
grove."

By this time the coach began to enter the village, and very soon it
stopped at the door of a very neat and tidy-looking inn. Mr. George
engaged lodgings for the night, and called for supper. The supper was
served in a pleasant little coffee room, which was fitted up in a very
snug and comfortable manner, like a back parlor in a gentleman's house.

After supper Mr. George proposed to the boys that they should take a
walk about the village, as it was only nine o'clock, and it would not be
dark for another hour. So they went out and walked through the street,
back and forth. The houses were built of a sort of gray stone, and they
stood all close together in rows, one on each side of the street, with
nothing green around them or near them. The street thus presented a very
gray, sombre, and monotonous appearance; very different from the
animated and cheerful aspect of American villages, with their white
houses and green blinds, and pretty yards and gardens, enclosed with
ornamental palings. The boys wished to go down to the shore of the loch;
but as they did not see the water any where, Mr. George said he thought
it would be too far. So they went back to the inn.

The next morning, after breakfast, they set out t