192 A CHASE. 



the possessor. Judging, however, that if the man crossed 

 the river at the ford a little below, which he was very 

 likely to do, that he would have so much law of Charlie 

 before he could descend the steep brae, that he might 

 escape : I drew back cautiously, got into the road out 

 of sight, and passed over Melrose bridge, taking care to 

 bend my body so as to keep it out of sight behind the 

 parapet ; I then lay concealed amongst the firs in the 

 opposite bank. Thus we had Master Sneak between 

 us. I was at some distance from the scene of action to 

 be sure, and somewhat in the rear, as I could advance 

 no further under cover ; but I had the upper ground, and 

 was tolerably swift of foot in those days, which gave me 

 confidence. I took out my pocket glass, and eyed my 

 man. He was no novice : but worked his fish with 

 great skill. At length he drew him on the shore, and 

 gave him a settler with a rap of a stone on the back of 

 his head ; he then, honest man, pryed around him with 

 great circumspection, and seeing no one, he took the 

 salmon by the tail, and, full of internal contentment, 

 deposited it in his well-contrived pocket : he then waded 

 across to the south side of the river, with an intention, 

 as it seemed, of revisiting his household gods and having 

 a broil. 



Charlie now arose from his lair, and scrambled down 

 the steep. The alarm was given, but he of the salmon 

 had a good start, with the river between him and his 

 pursuer. So he stopped for a moment on the haugh 

 to make out what was going forward on all sides, much 

 after the fashion of an old hare, who runs a certain 

 distance when she apprehends any thing personal, then 



