264 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



the brute by the tail ; there was pulling and splash- 

 ing, till at last he held the otter up aloft triumph- 

 antly. Now as this position, though not precisely 

 vertical, did not happen to suit the brute's con- 

 venience, the subtle animal managed to twist 

 round, and to fix his teeth on the captor's arm. 

 This was rather disagreeable to Charlie, as the 

 teeth of the otter abound in practical experiments. 

 The posture of affairs then, you see, was as follows : 

 — The tenacious Purdie had hold of the vermin 

 with his dexter, and was loth to relinquish his 

 grip ; the foe, nothing behind in tenacity, fixed his 

 teeth in Charlie's sinister with equal perseverance ; 

 thus both his arms were fully occupied. Nothing 

 daunted, Charlie cried out with Spartan endurance, 

 " Hey, lad, but twae can play at that ! " So, 

 extending his jaws, he fixed his grinders in the 

 animal's throat and worried him exceedingly. In 

 fine, after a very ludicrous struggle, he shook off 

 my excellent namesake and flung him on the shore, 

 where he was despatched with the leisters before 

 he could regain the river. Thus ended " the battle 

 of Otterbourne " ; and thus ended, also, our sport 

 for the night ; for the beast, no doubt, had disturbed 

 that cast, which, together with the lower water, was 

 set apart for another night's amusement. 



We now marched home with our spoil, 

 triumphant, — Sandy in front, with the blazing 

 beacon over his shoulder to light our steps, as has 

 been practised from time immemorial ; the others 

 with the fish and leisters. One of the spectators 

 began a concordia discors with his bagpipe, but bade 

 us adieu at Melrose Bridge, and the dulcet sounds 



