LEAVES FEOM A GAME BOOK. 233 



anticipating great doings. The other rods were Arthur 

 Willyams and his son Humphrey. In four days we 

 got but seven salmon and thirteen grilse, which was 

 a poor tribute from the Tay at that time of year. 



In taking leave of Battleby I will relate a most 

 vexing mishap which befel one of the party staying 

 there. Twice myself have I been the victim of the 

 boy or the girl employed in small out - of - the - way 

 villages by the Government to carry on their tele- 

 graphic monopoly. On the first occasion I wired from 

 Aboyne — not a very small place either — to a London 

 commissioner, on the morning of the day Zoedone 

 won the Grand National steeplechase, " Zoedone ten 

 pounds to win." This message I gave to my gillie to 

 carry to the post-office before starting for the river- 

 side. The next morning, on seeing in the Scotsman 

 that I had won £120, a line was despatched asking 

 that a cheque should in due course be forwarded to 

 Aboyne. The reply to this was a letter saying my 

 wire had been received, but minus the name of any 

 horse, and therefore nothing had been done. Now, 



