242 A REPREEF FROM SIR WALTER. 



Two or three more fish were taken amongst the 

 stones at the tail of the cast, and the sport in the carry- 

 wheel being now ended, the fish Avere stowed in the 

 hold of the boat, the crew jumped ashore, and a right 

 hearty appeal was made to the whiskey bottle. It was 

 first tendered to the veteran Tom Purdie, to whom it 

 was always observed to have a natural gravitation, but 

 to the astonislunent of all, he barely put his lips to the 

 quaigh, and passed it to his nephew. 



" Wliy, uncle mon, what the deil's come ower ye ? I 

 never kent ye refuse a drappie afore, no not sin I war 

 a callant ; I canna thole to see ye gang that gait." 



" Why, I'll tell ye what it is, Charlie. I got a re- 

 preef from Sir Walter for being fou the ither nicht." 



" Eh, uncle, how was that ? " 



" ' Why,' says Sir Walter, * Tom,' says he, * I sent for 

 ye on Monday, and ye were not at hame at aight 

 o' clock ; I doubt ye were fou, Tom :' ' I'll joust tell ye the 

 hale truth,' says I, ' I gaed round by the men at wark 

 at Rymer's Glen, and cam in by Tarfield ; then I went 

 to Darnick, and had a glass o' whiskey wi' Sandy Trum- 

 mel at Susy's, and I war joust coming awa when Rob 

 steppit in, and cried for half a mutchkin. I was na 

 for takkin mair, but the glasses were fiUed, and I did 

 not like to be beat wi' them, so I tuk mine.' * And is 

 that all you had, Tom ? ' said Sir Walter. ' Aye, indeed 

 was it,' said I; 'but. Heaven have a care o' me, I never was 

 the war of it, till I was ganging up by Jemmy Mercer's 

 by Coat's Green ; and when I cam up by Kerr side I 

 wanted to see Maister Laidlaw, but I thoucht I durst 

 na gang in ; and how I got hame I dinna ken, for I never 



