TOM PURDIE'S MUCKLE FISH 207 



cross the water at an orra time. I took a thought 

 that I would like to see what was steering on Cabers- 

 ton throat ; and sae I lap on the stilts and went 

 through at the rack ; and when I was on the other 

 side, I thought I might as weel tak a keek at the 

 throat. I keepit weel off the water-side, until I was 

 down aneth where the fish began to work. I kend 

 by a clour in the water a gay bit afore me, that there 

 was a big redd there, and drew cannily forrit. 'Odd, 

 sir ! my verra heart lap to my mouth when I gat 

 the glisk o' something mair like a red stirk than 

 ought else muve off the redd, and hallans down 

 the water and make for the south side. I fand my 

 hair creep on my head. I minded it was the Sabbath, 

 and I should not hae been there. It might be a 

 delusion o' the enemy, if it was na the deil himsel'. 

 I stude and consider'd. I had never seen the deil 

 i' daylight, and forbye there was just then a great 

 brown rowaner slade off the redd after him. If it 

 was the deil, what could he be doin' wi' the rowaner ? 

 The water was breast deep at the least ; it might 

 be a fish after a', and I had heard the auld folk speak 

 o' vera muckle anes. I lookit up the brae to the 

 toon. Peggy aiblins hadna likit my hankering about 

 the throat on sic a day, and she had slippit in to the 

 house, and didna come out again. Sae when I saw 

 it was sae, I held up the water side for my stilts, 

 keepin', for aw that, an ee to the redds. Heaven 

 forgie me 1 I neuer saw sic a water o' fish ! If it 

 was na the deil I had seen, I was sure he was na far 

 off. I saw enough to temp a better man than me ; 

 and I began to think I had better be at hame read- 



