226 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



me, that he thought there was something a little 

 sanguinary in the use of such a weapon, though he 

 owned that the invariable custom of knocking the 

 fish on the head immediately they were lifted made 

 their sufferings very short, and certainly, he thought, 

 not exceeding those of sheep and other animals in 

 the way they are commonly killed for the table. 



He then seceded, and I promised to join him at 

 Melrose. We went over the Webbs, and Craigover 

 boat-hole, setting nets and using various devices to 

 make the fish conceal themselves, in the way that 

 has been mentioned above. Upon the whole, we 

 were tolerably successful ; but having already de- 

 scribed the process of sunning, and being of a com- 

 passionate disposition, I will trouble no one with 

 a relation of the particulars of our transactions, 

 especially as I mean to give a flaming description 

 of what is called " burning the water," towards the 

 end of these pages. 



I went home from Mertoun by Melrose Abbey, 

 to take Mr. Tintern along with me, according to 

 agreement. As he was in the habit of fishing and 

 sketching alternately, I surmised he would establish 

 himself in the churchyard, and fall to work with 

 his crayons : nor was I deceived ; for when I came 

 to the wicket gate, I descried him very busy indeed ; 

 whilst a corpulent little gentleman in a snuff- 

 coloured coat, with a cane in his hand, was looking 

 over his shoulder. As I thought some amusing 

 contrast of character would take place, I listened to 

 what was going on ; in fact, the little man's gestures 

 were so grotesque that I was willing to enjoy them 

 as long as possible. He would stand still and look 



