140 DICK PURSUED. CHAP. xi. 



prize from Banniskirk! When I was tying up my 

 bundle, a stone beside me drew my attention. ' A gill- 

 cover!' said I. Lifting my hammer I gave it a blow. 

 Huzza ! Warty ! Coccosteus ! Huzza again ! 



" I had a heavy bundle home ; and about eight miles 

 to walk." 



Hugh Miller had not yet paid his visit. Dick was 

 eagerly expecting him. He determined to give Hugh a 

 great treat when he came. He would have a number of 

 fossil fish for him to dig out with his own hands. For 

 this purpose he went along the shore, east and west. 

 One day he crossed the stepping-stones at the mouth of 

 the river, and was passing under Thurso Castle, when 

 Sir George Sinclair hailed him. Dick was deaf that 

 day. He had lost a whole afternoon a few days before, 

 by being caught and involved in a conversation by Sir 

 George. Therefore he rushed up the cliff and disap- 

 peared instanter. 



But he was not yet at liberty. " One of the salmon- 

 fishers," he says, " left his employment, and came 

 and walked sentry over me on the brae head. This 

 was annoying, but I pushed on. Then some boys 

 fishing cuddins left their sport and dogged me, tramp- 

 ing almost on my tail. This was horrible. When I 

 threw a stone aside, they impudently lifted it and looked 

 at it. Wherever I went, they went also. I saw the 

 snout of a Dipterus ; then two in succession of the snouts 

 of Diplopterus ; then a broken skull-cap, standing out 

 for about nine or ten inches, but it is broken, for some 

 stupid fool had given it a passing blow not knowing 



