BURNING THE WATER 247 



by a mill was emptied of its water, that the trout 

 might be caught and taken lower down the stream, 

 more out of the way of poachers. This was done 

 by means of buckets, and in doing it the water 

 became thick and white, and the fish partook of 

 the same colour. I sent thirty-five brace of these 

 fish, all similar in size, a considerable distance lower 

 down the stream, when they were put under a 

 bridge near my house. Many of them died. But 

 in three hours after the removal I caught eight of 

 the others with a fly without moving from the spot : 

 neither the size nor the colour of the fish could 

 possibly be mistaken. 



THE BURNING 



" Charlie, Charlie,'" cried Thomas Jamieson, 

 " there's fine sport going on the night ; our maister's 

 minded to burn the water, for she is low enough, 

 ye ken ; so ane o' us will hae to gang and split the 

 twa auld tar barrels for lights, an' the ither mun 

 slidder up to Abbotsford and tell your uncle Tarn 

 what's ganging forrat, and say that he has to meet 

 us at the Carrywheel at aight o'clock preceesely. 

 Charlie, ye'd best do the lights yoursel', and I'll 

 hae to win to Darnick, and get the wasters aw new 

 sharpened. Sandy and Rob will come nae doot, 

 and we should hae auld Wat too ; but if he has 

 been fou yestreen, he'll no be worth a bawbee." 



"Ye needna fash yoursel' aboot the like o' 

 him, for he had a wee drap. I saw him the morn 

 riddling a cart fu' o' sand lyin' again the house end, 

 which he said he was making ready for biggin' ; 



