ii6 ANGLING & ART IN SCOTLAND 



My companion agreed to the suggestion, for it 

 was his nature to please all with whom he came in 

 contact. At times he would qualify his acquiescence, 

 but at others he would even outdo your own state- 

 ment. For instance, I happened one day to be 

 using the oars, and observed that they were not a 

 pair — that it would be better to shorten one of them 

 by three inches. "Yes, I am sh — ure," said Ronald, 

 "it would be better to do thaat ; I will take four 

 or five inches off it." "No," I said, "three inches 

 will be quite sufficient." "Yes, yes," replied Ronald, 

 " indeed two inches will be enough ! " 



But upon the present occasion, in spite of 

 Ronald's corroborative opinion, I did not change 

 my cast, thinking that probably after all it would 

 only be waste of time. 



There still lurked in my mind, however, a 

 strong presentiment that I should raise a salmon, 

 which caused me to fish with extra care and 

 attention. And sure enough ! before we had reached 

 the end of the sunken island, up he came. 



" Thaat's him 1 " cried Ronald ; but it needed 

 not that to acquaint me of the fact. Only a 

 very large fish could have made that slow, sullen 

 disturbance of the water, which left the impression 



