GRANTING A FAVOUR 203 



" Did ye no see that bogle there by the quarry 

 stream, that garred me rin this gait, hand on for yer 

 lives, sirs, for if he overtakes us, we are deid men." 



" Why the truth is, Sandy, that I do not choose 

 to haud on at present, because I came forth in quest 

 of a bonny salmon, and cannot go home without 

 one ; could you not help me to such a thing ? ' 



At this Sandy took a pinch of snuff from his 

 mull, and seeing my eyes fixed upon the length 

 and protuberance of his pocket, answered quaintly 

 enough 



" Aye, that can I, and right glad am I to do ye 

 a favour, ye shall no want for a salmon whilst I have 

 one." 



So saying, he pulled forth a ten pounder, which 

 occupied all the lower regions of his jacket. " How 

 the beast got here/' said he, as he extracted him 

 gradually, " I dinna ken, but I am thinking that he 

 must have louped intill my pocket, as I war wading 

 the river." 



' Nothing more likely, and I will admit him to 

 have done so for once, but, mark me, I will not 

 admit of any salmon doing so in future without 

 my permission in writing. You have been trouting, 

 it seems, pray what sort of a fly do you use ? " 



' Whiles I use a wee ane, and whiles a muckle 

 flie, ane for rough and deep water, and the ither for 

 shallow streams. That is the way to trout, both 

 in loch and river." 



' True ! I see you have some bonny little flies in 

 your hat ; take it off carefully, Purdie you under- 

 stand me and let me admire them." 



