Summer at the Lake of Monteith

24 The Lake of Monteith.
TRADITIONS REGARDING SIR JOHN MENTEITH.
Sir John Menteith was the second son of Walter
Stewart, Earl of Menteith, and was born on the island of
Inchmahome. On the death of his father, Sir John suc-
ceeded to the estate of Rusky, and resided
" Where the majestic Grampians spread
Their shadow o'er old Rusky's head;
Where friendship warms the escutcheoned walls
Of frowning Rusky's antique halls."
Sir John selected as his place of residence a small
island on Loch Rusky — a dark and deep, but beautiful
sheet of water, about midway between Callander and
Lake of Monteith, having a commanding view of the
surrounding country. On this little island he built a strong
castle, the ruins of which still remain. Sir John is reported
to have kept a fleet stud of horses, for the purpose of
carrying out his traitorous designs with the English King;
and, in support of this tradition, the course for training
the horses is still to be seen on the banks of the loch.
Another of Sir John's castles was the Castle of Monteith,
now called Castle of Rednock, a considerable portion of
which is still standing. This castle was originally very
strong, of great dimensions, and beautifully situated be-
neath a proud wing of the Grampians, from the summit of
which there is one of the most varied and commanding
views in Scotland. One roll of the traitor's eye could view