258 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



making the arrangements, and the proper hour being 

 now come, Harry Otter and Charlie Purdie went out 

 from the Pavilion to meet the party, who were to 

 assemble at eight o'clock about a mile and a half up 

 the river. The night was most favourable, it being 

 utterly dark, and not a sough of air stirring. With 

 caution and with difficulty they felt their way step by 

 step at the rocky base of the Scaur, where it dips into 

 the river, till they descried the boat which was to take 

 them across it at the Brig-end pool. The clanking of 

 the chain as it was loosened and flung on the planks 

 sounded harshly in the silence of night ; the oars dipped 

 duly, and they were soon on the opposite side of the 

 river, by which means they cut off a great sweep of 

 the haugh, " a huge half moon, a monstrous cantle out," 

 and proceeded in a more direct line to their mark. 

 They went on in darkness through the chilling dews, 

 now and then stumbling into the patches of furze 

 which were scattered over the haugh ; soon they begin 

 to hear the rushing of the waters through the gorge of 

 the Carrywheel : now it breaks full and loud upon the 

 ear, for they are arrived at the base of the wooded 

 brae that overhangs the cast. 



Two groups of men, but dimly seen, here await their 

 arrival ; one consists of spectators lying on the ground 

 with their plaids thrown athwart their bodies, and the 

 other of the heroes who were to figure in the grand 

 operation : these latter were sitting on the boats, and 

 on the masses of rock beside them on the water edge. 



All being now ready, a light was struck ; and the 

 sparks being applied to rags steeped in pitch, and to 



