258 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



rocks was somewhat intricate, there being barely 

 room for the width of the boat in some of the rapids ; 

 but Charles Purdie hit the thing off to a nicety. 

 They then burned the Glass-wheel Pot, the Oak Tree, 

 and the Noirs, in all of which they got a few fish. 



" Rob," said Charlie, " wail out some o' yer sticks 

 that they may be weel kinelt afore we get into Brig- 

 end Pule ; now, lads, ye mun cap well here, for she 

 will gang ower the stream wi' a terrible flee ; od, I 

 see them glancing down the pule as thick as herrin ; 

 Sandy, mon, but ye're dancing again ; what's come 

 ower ye ? ye'll be wanting Tom Purdie's big ladle 

 again, I'm thinkin." 



" The deil may hae Tarn Purdie and his muckle 

 ladle ; for as he nockit off a bit fish in the boat, he 

 dung yun o' the taes o' the waster intil ma leg, he is 

 aye sae camsterie." 



" Ye canna blame me, Sandy, for the mischanter, 

 for ye are aye stammering among the fish like a 

 haveril as ye are, and half fou into the bargain. 

 Halloo, Sandy, ye'll no crack o' yer deeds the nicht, 

 for yer waster's aye clanking against the stanes, 

 whilst the maister is striking the fish afore ye by 

 dizens ; and see, muckle Tarn has lifted in yun 

 amaist as lang as himsel." 



" Come, come, lads," says the master, " hold 

 your clish-ma-clavers, for we are just going into 

 Brig-end Pool ; so keep back the boat as well as 

 you can, or we shall go fiery fast over the stream." 



As the boat neared the pool, the men shouted out, 

 " Auld Michael ! auld Michael ! the charm for auld 

 Michael Scott : trim the boat, and take care the 



