42 ANGLING & ART IN SCOTLAND 



friend and I were kept perfectly au fait with all 

 that was taking place at the other side of the loch. 

 We noticed that as the sport waned the whisky- 

 bottle was passed round at shorter intervals, with, 

 no doubt, the not unnatural desire of improving 

 the luck. Eventually, however, even this method 

 failed to keep alive their flagging hopes, and the 

 three of them landed on the heathery bank to par- 

 take of lunch, Burnside being, I could tell even 

 at that distance, in an unusually expansive vein. 



Having ourselves despatched our midday repast, 

 we lit our pipes and paddled over to within speaking 

 distance of the other three sportsmen, when, after 

 the usual interchange of experiences of the morning's 



sport, Mr. K cordially invited us to come on 



shore, have a chat, and join in a dram. We were 

 not backward in complying with a suggestion so 

 excellent. Some pleasant converse followed, most 

 of the talking being done by Mr. Burnside, whom 

 we found in a reminiscent mood. But greatly was 

 I surprised, and I may say flattered, when that 

 dignified old gentleman actually came and sat down 

 by me in the heather, most affectionately putting 

 his arm around me, and recalled many incidents 

 of bygone years, when my brother and I had been 



