TOM PURDIE'S MUCKLE FISH. 217 



were mickle kippers too. I had dandered down too 

 near the burn fit, and had a pair of good stilts aye 

 lying there. My first wife was then a lass, and lived 

 at Caberston ; and the stilts were ready to cross the 

 water at an orra time. I took a thought that I would 

 like to see what was steering on Caberston throat ; and 

 sae I lap on the stilts, and went through at the rack ; 

 and when I was on the other side, I thought I might 

 as weel tak' a keek at the throat. I keepit weel aff 

 the water-side, until I was down aneth where the fish 

 began to work. I ken'd by a clour in the water a gey 

 bit afore me, that there was a big redd there, and drew 

 cannily forrit. 'Odd, sir, my vera heart lap to my 

 mouth when I gat the glisk o' something mair like a 

 red stirk than ought else rauve aff the redd, and hallans 

 down the water and make for the south side. I fand 

 my hair creep on my head. I minded it was the Sab- 

 bath, and I should not ha'e been there. It might be a 

 delusion o' the enemy, if it wasna the deil himsel'. I 

 stuid and considered. I had never seen the deil i' day- 

 light ; and, forbye, there was just then a great brown 

 rowaner slade aff the redd after him. If it was the 

 deil, what could he be doin' wi' the rowaner ? The 

 water was breast deep at the least ; it might be a fish 

 after a', and I had heard the auld folk speak o' vera 

 muckle anes. I lookit up the brae to the toun. Peggy 

 aiblins hadna likit my hankering aboot the throat on 

 sic a day and she had slippit into the house, and didna 

 come oot again. Sae when I saw it was sae, I held up 

 the water side for my stilts, keepin' for a' that an e'e to 

 the redds. Heaven forgi'e me ! I never saw sic a water 



