142 ANGLING Gf ART IN SCOTLAND 



to throw herself overboard. This latter circumstance 

 caused what little presence of mind there still re- 

 mained to the unhappy gillie to forsake him, and 

 his face changed to the colour of oatcake. The 

 only thing to be done was to run before the wind, 

 steering our course through a narrow strait between 

 two rocky islands. After an exciting minute or 

 two the passage was safely negotiated, and we dis- 

 embarked on the lee-side of the islands. 



Old Archie immediately regained his self-pos- 

 session, and rose to the occasion in firstrate style. 

 His face once more took on its normal hue as he 

 courteously handed the lady out of the boat, remark- 

 ing as he did so — " Indeed, I assure you, Mem, there 

 wass no danger whateffer ! " 



He then produced a small bottle of brandy, saying, 

 " Now, Mem, you will sit down here, and perhaps 

 you will take a wee drop of this sperrit ! I always 

 carry a little sperrit with me — not that I effer taste 

 it myself, Mem, but chest for a case like this, when 

 a leddy may feel a wee bit nerrvous." 



One year Archie took service under a certain 

 middle-aged Major, a capital sportsman, and a man of 

 goodly proportions, so that the two of them made 

 a fine pair in the boat. The Major was exceedingly 



