304 SALMON FISHING 



"What's to be done noo, Peter ?" said one, as 

 the gamekeepers seated themselves just below our 

 arbour. " Whaur d'ye think he'll be ? " 



" Dear knows, Tarn," said Peter. 



"At ony rate, it's weel we ha'e 'im by the heels 

 noo," said Tarn. " I'll ha'e a chance o' gettin' to ma 

 bed, instead o' bein' oot every ither nicht." 



" But ha'e we got 'im by the heels ? " said Peter. 



" Aweel," said Tarn, " I canna' gang sae far as to 

 say I see 'im ; but he maun be i' the viceenity. 

 Naebody but a daftie wud gae Va' withoot sic a 

 bonnie rod." 



"There's something in that, am thinkin'; but, 

 Tarn, he may ken what an awfu' deevil ye are wi' the 

 poachers." 



" Aye, mon ; maybe," said Tarn, touched by the 

 compliment. 



Peter was encouraged by his chiefs complacence. 

 " His Lordship," he said, " will be weel pleased when 

 we tak' hame the scoonrel's name an' address. Of 

 course, we'll tak' the rod and net ? " 



" Of course. It's no' exac'ly in accoard wi' the 

 law o' interdic' ; but we'll dae't." 



Peter was mystified, but seemed impressed. " It's 

 a graun' thing, book-learnin', Tarn. But whaur the 

 de'il's the poacher ? " 



" Ca' canny, Peter, lad. I'll ha'e 'im if I have to 

 sit here a' nicht." 



" Losh, Tarn, look at yon ! " exclaimed Peter, 

 rising hastily to his feet, and pointing to the 

 boat. 



