FURTHER INTERCOURSE WITH CHARLES BLACK. 



very latent, bashful as he looked. " Ay, ay, I had my e'en 

 a' aboot me there ! " and there was not the slightest doubt 

 that he had ; for his short sight served him better than the 

 long sight of most of us. 



In Duddingston Loch, at the back of Arthur's Seat, 

 John's keen eyes were rewarded by the discovery of a rare 

 and beautiful white flower rising out of the water, erect as 

 a soldier on duty, surrounded by dark-green, flag-like, 

 sharp-toothed leaves, called from its appearance the Water 

 Soldier (Stratiotes Abides) the first part of the technical 

 name meaning the same as the English, and the second 

 denoting its general resemblance to the aloe. Like his old 

 friend of the Tillyfourie moss holes, this plant is a vegetable 

 curiosity, with similar instincts, remaining under water for 

 the most of the year, and rising to the surface during 

 fructification. It grew too far from the side of the loch to 

 be drawn to shore with his stick, like the bladderwort 

 His caution had been increased since his experience at the 

 Loch of Drum ; but the plant must be got, at whatever cost. 

 John doffed his nether garment as before, got some old 

 planks, floated in on them, supported by an overhanging 

 willow which stretched out its branches conveniently at the 

 spot, and successfully secured his prize ! He carried it 

 home to Charles Black's, proud as a soldier after victory,, 

 and erect as the " Soldier " he bore, as if he were himself 

 once more on parade. 



He also obtained another rarity in this loch, its only 

 Scotch station,* the Common flowering rush (Butomus 



* It now flourishes also in one of the reservoirs near Paisley, having 

 been brought there from Duddingston about twenty years ago by a 

 botanist of local fame, Mr. Thomas Henry. 



