214 ANGLING & ART IN SCOTLAND 



congenial companion, when a boat was observed 

 drifting along the shore towards us, in which was 

 seated a solitary fisherman. As the boat approached 

 it was impossible not to recognise in the occupant, 

 clad in a suit of the colour of tawny port, the 

 unmistakable figure of the ancient gamekeeper 

 of Crianlarich ; — for, though still active, ancient he 

 certainly was, being then in his ninety-first year. 



As he neared the spot where we were reclining, 

 a very small trout was bold enough to take his fly, 

 and thereupon found itself hurled with much energy 

 over the angler's head, being, in fact, violently 

 deposited again in the water on the farther side ; — 

 a proceeding which must have greatly astonished 

 that creature, not having been brought up to emulate 

 a flying-fish. This caused the nonagenarian, who 

 had caught sight of the gallery on shore, to throw 

 up his hands, expressive of disgust, at the un- 

 fathomable ways of the salmo fario; — also caused 

 him, in the melde which ensued, to get his line 

 somewhat entangled around his rod. An observa- 

 tion followed, for our benefit, in a voice which 

 would have put a fog-horn to shame : — " I fe-ar 

 they'll no stir-r-r." 



The R in the last word echoed and re-echoed 

 amongst the surrounding mountains, until it finally 



