102 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



As the night advanced, a change began to take 

 place. Clouds heaved up over the horizon ; the 

 wind was heard in murmurs ; the rack hurried 

 athwart the moon ; and utter darkness fell upon 

 river, mountain, and haugh. Then the gust swelled 

 louder, and the storm struck fierce and sudden 

 against the casement. But as the morrow dawned, 

 though the rain-drops still hung upon the leaf, the 

 clouds sailed away, the sun broke forth, and all was 

 fair and tranquil. 



The fisherman was sent for express. His apparel 

 may be taken as a general sample of the garb of the 

 piscator on that river, where " Flora discloses her 

 beauties " par excellence. A hat with salmon flies 

 round the crown, the loop of each gut being passed 

 over the head of a pin stuck into the said hat, and 

 the barb of the hook fastened into the felt. The 

 bonnet on such occasions is laid aside. A short coat 

 or jacket ; waistcoat according to fancy ; blue panta- 

 loons ; and a pair of colossal shoes, studded with 

 splatter-headed nails. 



" Well, Wattie, I am glad you are come ; for 

 you shall see me catch a dozen salmon to-day." 



" You mun be a warlock then ; for the deil a 

 mon atween Bolside and Kelso, beside yoursel', wull 

 tak ae saumon the day. If ye were even to throw 

 the Lady of Mertoun 1 into the water, they wudna 

 look at her ; for the storm cam' from the wast last 

 nicht ye ken, and she 2 wull be waxing the morn ; 

 but we can gang doon to her and see." Down we 



1 The Flower of Yarrow, married to Scott of Harden. 



2 The Tweed, like a ship, is always called she, the feminine gender 

 giving it its due consequence. 



