26 STUDIES OF NATURE 



village fish there all the day long in the deep 

 water. They are a sharp-witted race, keen of 

 feature, and quick of speech. ' Johnnie,' said 

 one of them to another as I stood there, 

 * Johnnie, ye've got a bigger fish noo than ever 

 ye had in your life before.' Turning round to 

 look at the great catch, I heard the young 

 rascals laughing consumedly. It was myself 

 who had been caught. To get the big hook 

 out of my tweed trousers was a long and some- 

 what trying operation. Among the characters 

 of Lamlash is Sandy M'Glosher. Sandy is a 

 fisherman and a boatman, and has a thriving 

 trade. All through the winter months he fishes 

 hard, and never tastes whisky ; but as soon as 

 summer brings visitors, Sandy is sober no more. 

 It is whisky, whisky, all the day long. Last 

 night, after eleven o'clock, a splash in the water 

 was heard by a casual passer-by. Sandy had 

 rolled off the pier, and had a narrow escape of 

 his life. He was drawn in by one foot a mere 



