98 ANGLING & ART IN SCOTLAND 



lating wildly, while his curses were wafted ever 

 more faintly over the waves as the steamer forged 

 ahead. 



This recalls another incident, of a similar nature, 

 which took place on one of McBrayne's boats 

 plying northward to the island of Skye. In this 

 case it was a fussy little man, who button-holed 

 every one on board from the purser to the captain, 

 asking in querulous tones, " Hae ye seen my port- 

 manchy? — Has onybody seen my portmanchy?" 



To begin with, he was listened to with some 

 show of concern and politeness, but this soon wore 

 threadbare upon repetition ; until finally, a kindly, 

 big boatswain tenderly shook him into attention, 

 stopping his babble, and inquired, "Weel, man, 

 and what like's yere portmanteau ? " The babbler's 

 jaw dropped as he looked in astonishment at his 

 interlocutor. " Eh I " said he, "what like is my 

 portmanchy ? — Aweel — it's — just a smaall — teen — 

 canis terry 



But I fear we are taking some time in getting 

 to Tomdown, which, alter all, is only natural, be- 

 cause, as I remarked before, it was a leisurely 

 performance. 



At Fort Augustus, at the head of Loch Ness, 



