i6 ANGLING & ART IN SCOTLAND 



Britain more tiring to walk through than the valley 

 of the Galloway Dee ! 



Having crossed the main stream, we found our- 

 selves near the east end of the loch, and a council 

 of war was held. Already we had covered fourteen 

 very stiff miles, and, although we intended taking 

 an easier, and possibly shorter, homeward route, 

 still the return journey had to be accomplished. 



After some discussion it was decided that the 

 two eldest should go on to the Black Laggan, yet 

 a mile and a half distant, there to engage rooms for 

 the following Tuesday, while John and I took it 

 easy where we were, waiting for the others to pick 

 us up on their homeward way. 



My brother John was not particularly strong in 

 those days, so he generally brought up the rear- 

 guard ; and if there was any tumbling to be done, 

 in the mountaineering way, or in wading rivers, it 

 always seemed to fall to his share, as his special 

 prerogative. He was decidedly unlucky in that 

 direction ; and when any fresh piece of ill-luck 

 overtook him, the novelty never seemed to wear 

 off for him. He never took it as a matter of 

 course, but as a new and added sign of the deep 

 and special spite which the Evil One bore against 



