294 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



instructions ; but the deck hands stated that he was not on 

 hoard, but fishing off the end of the dock. A stentorian 

 shout summoned the truant. With line in hand and a 

 string of flounders he made his appearance. " How dar'st 

 you gang ashore wi'out my permission ? You 're mair 

 bother than the whole ship's company, you de'il's buckey, 

 you. Yinst we get hame, your mither maun keep you to 

 hersel'; for though she be my ain sister, I '11 no be langer 

 lushed wi' the likes o' you. Now listen to me : hae dinner 

 sharp at twa ; see that the cook dun'na boil the haggis 

 ower muckle, and set twa plates. You '11 tak your dinner 

 wi' me, sir ; I hae got a real Scotch haggis, and the likes 

 you maybe nare tasted afore. I '11 tak no refusal, mon, 

 unless you 're promised to a friend." With pleasure I 

 accepted the invitation, and, much pleased with both captain 

 and schooner, returned to the hotel to pack my traps and 

 make final arrangements before sailing. Sharp at two I 

 was again on board, and the agreeable odour which per- 

 vaded the craft, if it rose from the haggis, was a guarantee 

 of future excellence. The captain welcomed me with great 

 warmth, and expressed hopes that we should have a rapid 

 and pleasant passage, but at the same time informed me 

 that there was no more kittlish navigation in the world, 

 excepting it be on his own native coast. Our meal passed 

 pleasantly ; and while performing the office of host, his 

 brusqueness disappeared, and with it a good deal of the 

 broad dialect. The haggis was excellent, the bacon and 

 chickens were as good, and the West Indian preserves 

 which formed the dessert were of the best quality. As I 

 stretched my limbs under his table in the snug little cabin, 



