212 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



till just afore skye-break, which I kend baith by 

 my watch, and the cock that had been through the 

 night as quiet as the kye aneath him. I waken' d 

 Sandie wi' muckle ado this time, and he had nae 

 grit broo' o j the business : but, however, be that 

 as it may, we tyed up another light an' set off again. 

 But there was still a hankering i' the callant's mind 

 anent ga'an back to the same place, where he had 

 gotten sic a fleg. He was like a colt that has been 

 scar'd wi' a gray stane, an's no willing to venture 

 back to see that its nae bogle. ' But is ye sure, 

 Tarn, it was na the deil ? ' ' Deil a bit o' Satan it 

 was Sandie, ma man,' says I, ' for I saw him afore 

 you ; an' the deil dare na show himsel' in daylight 

 on sic a day/ Weel, we gat through the Queed 

 again, an' kindled up the auld place. When we 

 cam' up to the muckle redd, the fiend a haed was 

 there but twae or three rowangatherers whidden 

 about ; sae we cam' up the water-side for the light 

 was only at the best, when, gonshens ! there was 

 the great brute o' a kipper, that, when he had gotten 

 a glint o' the light had minded the dunt he got on 

 the back, an' was glidin' up the side o' the water 

 within three step o' the channel. I scraucht to 

 Sandie to haud up the light, and keepin' clear o' the 

 back fin this time, I strack him atween the back fin 

 an' the gills, at the same time shakin' the lyams off 

 my arm. Peace be here ! if he didna stem the 

 throat four feet deep wi' the waster sticking straight 

 up in his back as if he never fand it, wi' the lyams 

 about him ! I durst na draw however. I had nae 

 fear o' their breaking, for they were spun of the 



