198 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



ere four in the afternoon there was mustered betwixt 

 us above three stone weight ! By this time, we had 

 angled over a considerable portion of Meggat-water, 

 and had reached, almost in company with each other, 

 the dark, deep pools lying immediately above the 

 Kirk. These, we well knew, contained a number of 

 prime and subtle fish to be captured only when the 

 water, as at that time, was of a dark porter-colour. 

 Accordingly, we threw off our somewhat worn and 

 dismantled flies, exchanging them for others of a 

 larger and brighter sort, and, tossing for the choice 

 pool, commenced carefully to rake the water-surface. 

 Almost at the same moment, each of us happened 

 upon a sturdy two-pounder. They fought like heroes, 

 throwing themselves at full length out of the pool, and 

 pushing straight up against the current. Now they 

 relaxed a little, and showed their sides. They gasped 

 submission, and our bended wands brought them to 

 the margin. How lovely they looked, lying among 

 the pebbles, not as if in agony they felt none but 

 like a tribute-offering devoted to us, their conquerors ; 

 and in our creels lovelier still, curled up over the rest of 

 their tribe, seemingly their monarchs or their patriarch 

 sires ! These creels were full, crammed to the lid, 

 ere we arrived at the Hendeiiand-rocks ; but the 

 Shepherd had a game-bag, and I an honestly huge 

 couple of coat-pockets, so that we lacked betwixt us no 

 store-room ! 



St. Mary's Loch was again in view, but not as at 



