BOYHOOD IN GALLOWAY 17 



him, and him in particular. But I must say that 

 that did not hinder him from making the choice 

 of the most precarious passage with unabated en- 

 thusiasm and pluck. 



Well, it was very pleasant lying lazily on the 

 banks of the stream, throwing occasional pebbles 

 into the amber-coloured water. But, after a period, 

 even that fascinating occupation may pall, and it 

 began to seem a long, weary time that those two 

 fellows were away at the shepherd's house. We 

 got to talking of the far-off supper which would 

 be awaiting us at Dairy, and of what it would 

 consist ; for it was then five o'clock in the after- 

 noon — a long hot day had been spent with only 

 a few sandwiches to eat, and inwardly we felt as 

 if many hours had passed since those had been 

 disposed of. 



At last — the envoys returned, in great spirits, 

 much charmed with the wild surroundings of the 

 shepherd's house and the tempting appearance of 

 Loch Dee ; and having engaged the one bedroom, 

 which contained two good-sized beds, for the follow- 

 ing Tuesday. They were also full (both mentally 

 and corporeally) of the magnificent repast with 

 which the kindly housewife had regaled them ; a 



