240 TOM rURDIE DIVERTS HIMSELF. 



has made the above swarthy and mysterious personages 

 express themselves In the language of Tweedside ; nor 

 could one fancy salmon in the Styx, though they might 

 well disport in the streams of the happy fields beyond. 



" Now, my lads," says the master, " take your 

 places. Tom, stand you next to me ; Sandy, go on the 

 other side of Tom ; and do you, Jamie, keep in the 

 middle, and take tent to cap the boats well over the 

 rapids. Rob, do you and Tom Purdie keep good lights 

 and fell the fish. Halloo, Tom, you have smuggled a 

 leister into the boat for your own use." 



" Ay, ay, that have I, joust for mine ain de version, 

 ye ken." 



" Well, well, you may just keep it, for you are a 

 stout chiel, and it would be hard work to get it from 

 you ; besides, no one can use it more dexterously than 

 yourself. Now, then, we will push the boat up the 

 cheek of the stream till we come to the head of it. That 

 will do. Now shoot her across the gorge, and down 

 she goes merrily, broadside foremost, according to rule. 

 Cap, Charlie, cap, man ; we are drifting down like 

 mad; keep back your end of the boat." 



" Aweel, aweel, she gangs cannily now ; look, uncle, a 

 muckle fish before ye ; or ever ye kent, the maister's 

 leister gaed through him, and played auld dife. That 

 side, that side, Jamie ; — he's rinnin up to get past. Od, 

 ye have him; and I hae anither, and anither. Keep a 

 gude light, Tom. Now let us tak' up the boat to the 

 head of the stream, or ever we look the stanes, for there 

 war a muckle fish ganged by that none o' ye gomrells 

 ever saw. There, we are high eneuch now ; baud yer 



