142 



CHAPTEE IX. 



CARRON, ROSS-SHIRE. 

 OTTER and LEISTER. 



Otter. I am all in a tremor, Jack, and cannot un- 

 riddle my tackle for want of nerve. See how these 

 flies are bewildered ! Here is a Gordian knot with 

 a vengeance, and no remedies beside me but patience 

 and my penknife. The former I have lost, and to 

 it I set with the latter, hacking and maiming this 

 way and that, while you, already trimmed, are on 

 the point of discharging your hook at the snout of 

 one of those gallant fish, which belabour the water 

 with their tails in all quarters. What a muster of 

 salmon, grilses, and sea-trout ! 



Leister. Ay, Tom, and I have hold of a fellow at 

 throw first a grilse by his capers, five pound weight, 



