210 ANGLING & ART IN SCOTLAND 



aal that — Eh ! and mair. Ye hear what the gentle- 

 men say, Don Malloch, ' Graand fesh — graand fesh.' " 



But still the delighted keeper, with closed eyes, 

 periodically fired off his "Hoot awa! Hoot awa ! 

 Twa wee bit fushes ! twa wee bit fushes ! " like minute 

 guns, while he rolled his head from side to side, 

 and, with claw-like hand, continued to smooth the 

 refractory locks across his shining head. 



With self-conscious, though ecstatic expression 

 of countenance did he absent-mindedly measure 

 out, into his again empty glass, a proportion of 

 water from one decanter, of which there were two 

 upon the table, under the apparent misapprehension 

 that he was helping himself to spirit, carefully fill- 

 ing it up with more ac/iia piira from the second 

 bottle. Was it a misapprehension ? — or did he 

 really know? Whichever the truth, it is certain 

 that he never became so incapable as to lose control 

 of his faculties ; for, in spite of the lavish flattery, 

 so adroitly administered to him by the specious Tam 

 Lambie, we never did, after all, succeed in getting 

 leave from him for those two delectable lochs. But 

 our disappointment was decidedly tempered by the 

 intense amusement which the scene had afforded us. 



I recollect towards the end of the evening a 



