132 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



a shallow stream, although somewhat rough and 

 noisy. I shall feel my way with my rod. Not 

 knee-deep, Bill, I affirm ! Come on, boldly ha ! 

 there's a slippery stone hereabouts push to the left. 



May. I shall be down to a certainty. 



Swivel. Keep thy legs together, and thy side to 

 the current move ! move ! deliberation is danger. 

 See, I am nearly across. Thy hand, Bill we are safe ! 



May. 'Tis well, for I am sadly worsted ; and now 

 let us rest an hour on this bank. 



Swivel. Not one minute ; I value my life more. 

 'Twould stiffen us to do so into sheer corses. Up, 

 up, Bill ! and shake the drench water off thee by 

 a brisk gallop towards yon dark-looking object a 

 short way before us. 'Tis a hut, but an uninhabited 

 one a goat shed, methinks. But hurra ! here is 

 the road the government road leading to Fort- 

 William ! We are close upon King's-house, Bill ! 



May. I see it not and yet, as you say, it must be 

 at hand. How shall we proceed, Doctor? right or left? 



Swivel. I am puzzled, Bill, like thyself. 'Tis cer- 

 tain, however, that Glencoe lies in the latter direc- 

 tion ; should we take the other we stumble upon 

 Kannoch moor, where, for ought I know, we may 

 stand at this moment. Let us decide by the toss 

 of a coin ; heads, right tails, left. 



May. Tails ! 



Swivel. To the left then we go 



May. And on a good, smooth road, which 'tis a 



