A PLEASANT AFTERNOON. 287 



of a brig in the Honduras trade, and here I saved some 

 money; in three years I purchased a share, and in 

 two years more was half owner. The world prospered 

 wi' me, and every few years or so I see the auld folks 

 and gie them a little comfort in their auld age. When 

 young, many's the trout I had tane, and when I would 

 make my fleeing visits to the old hearthstone, I would 

 generally get a day or two to try the salmon in Doon, 

 for I was aye fond o' fishing, so was my father, and 

 his father afore him, an' somehow I ne'er kent a 

 fisher who was na an honest man " (as he wanned with 

 the subject he resumed his native dialect), " and when 

 I looked at j^ou, and heard you say you were going for 

 a bit o' fishing, -my heart warmed to you, and tho' I 

 ha' been so fashed wi' passengers, and had maist made 

 up my mind nare to take anither, I jist thought I'd 

 drap my rule on your account." 



The afternoon passed pleasantly; the captain had 

 been everywhere, and discoursed with great good 

 sense and knowledge upon different countries, and lie- 

 was destitute of the disagreeable egotism that so fre- 

 quently stamps our uneducated countrymen. More- 

 over, he was a loyal and true subject of his queen and 

 country, which made me the more appreciate him. 

 Next morning we got to sea with a fair wind, and 

 every prospect of a short run ; the schooner was a re- 

 markably fast sailer, built after the model of one of 

 our modern yachts, low and close to the water ; with 

 plenty of beam, and long, tapering, rakish spars. 



Her decks were without hamper, and showed from 

 their whiteness that holystone was not spared ; while 

 the crew, which consisted of six men, the redoubtable 

 Jock, and a sturdy nigger, were as efficient, clean, and 



