A BOAT-LOAD 259 



most ; they are lying afore us like sacks, and will 

 be as thick as you can dab them up. Mind the 

 light, Sandy, and take care that kipper doesna 

 wallop out o' the boat. See what a muckle fish 

 Charlie has got ! " 



In fact the men were making a great slaughter ; 

 and when they had gone over the pool two or three 

 times, had half filled the boat with the spoil ; so as 

 they found they were well laden, they called to 

 Rob Colyard to come forward with his cart and 

 take them home. 



" Shove the boat to the shore ; Colyard, come 

 forrat wi' yer cart ; that'll do, mon ; aw honds to 

 wark, count the fish as ye pit them in ; Charlie, 

 how many hae ye coonted ? " 



" There jest a hunder and twa, great and sma' — 

 whitling, bull-trout, saumonts, and a'thegither." 



The men passed round the whisky bottle, and 

 we resumed our sport ; I, Harry Otter, stood as 

 before at the head of the boat, and the other men 

 in their allotted places ; we passed pretty swiftly 

 down the streams, broadside in front, striking many 

 fish, till we came near the Elfin Burn, when, 

 observing that the water-break in the centre of the 

 river, caused by a concealed rock, was more gentle 

 than usual, I thought the boat would strike, so I 

 called out to Charlie for caution. 



" Hout, tout ! he mun let her gang ; there is 

 plenty of water to take her over." 



Charlie Purdie was never more mistaken in his 

 life ; the stream drove us downward at a rapid race, 

 notwithstanding we in some measure moderated it 

 by capping our best with the leisters. Bang went 



