A SLIGHT MISTAKE. 97 



buttresses, and light tracery, but dimly seen in the 

 solemn mass. A faint light twinkled for a space 

 among the tombstones ; soon it was extinct, and two 

 figures passed off in the shadow, who had been digging 

 a arrave even at that late hour. 



As the night advanced, a change began to take place. 

 Clouds heaved up over the horizon ; the wind was heard 

 in murmurs ; the rack hurried athwart the moon ; and 

 utter darkness fell upon river, mountain, and haugh. 

 Then the gust swelled louder, and the storm struck fierce 

 and sudden against the casement. But as the morrow 

 dawned, though the rain-drops still hung upon the leaf, 

 the clouds sailed away, the sun broke forth, and all was 

 fair and tranquil. 



The fisherman was sent for express. His apparel may 

 be taken as a general sample of the garb of the piscator 

 on that river, where " Flora discloses her beauties " par 

 excellence. A hat with salmon flies round the crown, 

 the loop of each gut being passed over the head of a 

 pin stuck into the said hat, and the barb of the hook 

 fastened into the felt. The bonnet on such occasions is 

 laid aside. A short coat or jacket ; waistcoat according to 

 fancy ; blue pantaloons ; and a pair of colossal shoes, 

 studded with splatter-headed nails. 



" Well, Wattie, I am glad you are come ; for you 

 shall see me catch a dozen salmon to-day." 



" You mun be a warlock then ; for the deil a mon 

 atween Bolside and Kelso, beside yoursel, wuU tak ae 

 saumon the day. If ye were even to throw the * Lady of 



* The Flower of Yarrow, married to Scott of Harden. 

 H 



