260 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



the boat's broadside right against the rock, to which 

 she stuck fast till the stream above poured into her 

 in the most effective possible style, and down she 

 went of course. The water, however, was by no 

 means deep ; but those fish, which we had taken 

 since the load went home, found their way again 

 into the river, and began to vanish down the 

 streams. Being deprived of life, they went pas- 

 sively along, followed by all the boat's crew, who 

 rushed about and charged with their leisters, 

 "hurry, hurry, splash, splash," till they fished out 

 most of them, the remainder being left to solace 

 the eels. This in common parlance would be called 

 a disaster ; a sort of shipwreck in miniature ; but 

 judging from the merriment it excited, it might be 

 deemed the best sport of the night. 



Whilst these gambols were carrying on, and the 

 men were rolling about in the waters, after the 

 guise of sea calves, Charlie Purdie and I had got 

 the boat to the shore, and heaving her upon her 

 side, had poured the water out : " And now, 

 Purdie," said I, "whilst these clever fellows are 

 catching dead fish, do tell me what you all meant 

 by shouting out ' auld Michael ! ' and calling for the 

 charm at the Brig-end Pool ? " 



"Why ye mun ken that Michael Scot, who 

 lived in bygane times, was a warlock, and I cud 

 tell ye mony wonderfu' cracks aboot him, for the 

 hale country rings wi' his foul deeds. Mony years 

 syne there was a brig at yon cast, but the spate ran 

 away a' foreby the middle pillar, which stud up in 

 the water as high as ever ; and as the fishermen o' 

 thae days were burning the Noi?~s, they saw a 



