noon before
But at last he was so earnest with me that I thought it the more mannerly part to let him have his way , and so left him poorer than myself . The next day Mr. Henderland found for me a man who had a boat of his own and was to cross the Linnhe Loch that afternoon into Appin , fishing . Him he prevailed on to take me , for he was one of his flock ; and in this way I saved a long day 's travel and the price of the two public ferries I must otherwise have passed . It was near noon before we set out ; a dark day with clouds , and the sun shining upon little patches . The sea was here very deep and still , and had scarce a wave upon it ; so that I must put the water to my lips before I could believe it to be truly salt . The mountains on either side were high , rough and barren , very black and gloomy in the shadow of the clouds , but all silver-laced with little watercourses where the sun shone upon them . It seemed a hard country , this of Appin , for people to care as much about as Alan did .