246 BRIG-END POOL. 



the channel ; his mouth seemed full of water and abuse ; 

 he soon got rid of the one ; but before he could vent the 

 other, he was anticipated by the boat's crew, who all 

 shouted out shame upon him for his awkwardness, and 

 for having nearly upset the boat in his fall, and endan- 

 gered the lives of several worthy individuals. Thus a 

 sort of balance was struck between faults on both sides, 

 and Tom Purdie himself assisted him to regain the boat ; 

 " and Sandy mon," said he, as he lifted him in, " I shall 

 be always willing to do ye the same good service when 

 ye need it ; so yee'l let me ken when the burning pick 

 gets aboard ye again." 



They now passed over some bare streams where no 

 salmon would lie ; the navigation amongst the rocks was 

 somewhat intricate, there being barely room for the width 

 of the boat in some of the rapids ; but Charles Purdie 

 hit the tiling off to a nicety. They then burned the 

 Glass-ivheel Pot, the Oak Tree, and the Noirs, in all 

 of which they got a few fish. 



" Rob," said Charlie, " wail out some o' yer sticks 

 that they may be weel kinelt afore we get into Brig-end 

 Pule ; now, lads, ye mun cap well here, for she will gang 

 ower the stream wi' a terrible flee ; od, I see them glancing 

 down the pule as thick as herrin ; Sandy, mon, but ye 're 

 dancing again ; what's come ower ye ? ye'U be wanting 

 Tom Purdie's big ladle again, I'm thinkin." 



" The deil may hae Tam Purdie and his muckle 

 ladle ; for as he nockit off a bit fish in the boat, he dung 

 yun o' the taes o' the waster intil ma leg, he is aye sae 

 camsterie." 



" Ye canna blame me, Sandy, for the mischanter, for 



