A SCHERZO 183 



struck ; " why didn't you call us before, at five o'clock, 

 as you said you would?" 



"Och! When I cam in this morning to wake 

 you, and saw you was so sound asleep, I just thought 

 it was a peety; and Mr. Johnny he was so tired 

 last night!" 



So there was nothing for it but to drive com- 

 fortably home for our breakfasts — not a bad thing 

 to do either — while the trout were left in peace 

 to capture theirs. 



In the meantime the occupants of the other boat, 

 no more successful than we in obtaining sport, had 

 come to the conclusion that the wisest thing they 

 could do was to row quietly back to the hotel, 

 there to seek their homely beds, and leave to us 

 the arduous work of upholding the prestige of the 

 party. 



Many times, as they steadily rowed eastward 

 through the night, did they congratulate themselves 

 upon their superior tactics, chuckling gleefully at 

 the unfruitful time which they considered we were 

 spending. Wullie, especially delighted, occasionally 

 stopped to waggle his head as the thought struck 

 him anew of the arduous dance that his fellow-gillie 

 and myself would be leading " poor Johnny," as he 



