212 DATS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



harry the possessor. Judging, however, that if the 

 man crossed the river at the ford a little below, which 

 he was very likely to do, that he would have so much 

 law of Charlie before he could descend the steep brae, 

 that he might escape : I drew back cautiously, got into 

 the road out of sight, and passed over Melrose bridge, 

 taking care to bend my body so as to keep it out of 

 sight behind the parapet ; I then lay concealed amongst 

 the firs in the opposite bank. Thus we had Master 

 Sneak between us. I was at some distance from the 

 scene of action to be sure, and somewhat in the rear, 

 as I could advance no further under cover ; but I had 

 the upper ground, and was tolerably swift of foot in 

 those days, which gave me confidence. I took out my 

 pocket glass, and eyed my man. He was no novice : 

 but worked his fish with great skill. At length he 

 drew him on the shore, and gave him a settler with a 

 rap of a stone on the back of his head ; he then, honest 

 man, pryed around him with great circumspection, and 

 seeing no one, he took the salmon by the tail, and, full 

 of internal contentment, deposited it in his well-con- 

 trived pocket : he then waded across to the south side 

 of the river, with an intention, as it seemed, of revisiting 

 his household gods and having a broil. 



Charlie now arose from his lair, and scrambled down 

 the steep. The alarm was given, but he of the salmon 

 had a good start, with the river between him and his 

 pursuer. So he stopped for a moment on the haugh 

 to make out what was going forward on all sides, much 

 after the fashion of an old hare, who runs a certain 

 distance when she apprehends any thing personal, then 



