222 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



chance ? A weel, I lay still till just afore sky-break, 

 which I kent baith by my watch, and the cock that had 

 been through the night as quiet as the kye aneath him. 

 I waken'd Sandie wi' muckle ado this time, and he 

 had nae grit broo' o' the business ; but, however, be that 

 as it may, we tied up another light and set off again. 

 But there was still a hankering i' the callant's mind 

 anent ga'in' back to the same place, where he had gotten 

 sic a fleg. He was like a colt that has been scar'd wi' a 

 grey stane, an's no willing to venture back to see that 

 it's nae bogie. ' But is ye sure, Tam, it wasna the 

 deil?' ' Deil a bit o' Satan it was, Sandie, ma man,' 

 says I, ' for I saw him afore you ; an' the deil darena 

 show himsel' in daylight on sic a day.' Weel, we gat 

 through the Queed again, an' kindled up the auld place. 

 When we cam' up to the muckle redd, the fiend a haet 

 was there but twae or three rowangatherers whidden 

 about ; sae we cam' up the water-side for the light was 

 only at the best, when, gonshens ! there was the great 

 brute o' a kipper, that, when he had gotten a glint o' 

 the light, had minded the dunt he got on the back, an' 

 was giidin' up the side o' the water within three step o' 

 the channel. I scraucht to Sandie to haud up the light, 

 and keepin' clear o' the back fin this time, I strack him 

 atween the back fin an' the gills, at the same time 

 shakin' the lyams off my arm. Peace be here I if he 

 didna stem the throat four feet deep wi' the waster 

 sticking straight up in his back as if he never fand it. 

 wi' the lyams about him ! I durstna draw, however. 

 I had nae fear o' their breaking, for they were spun of 

 the hair o' the grey auld buck that gaed for mony 



