260 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



has made the above swarthy and mysterious personages 

 express themselves in the language of Tweedsicle ; nor 

 could one fancy salmon in the Styx, though they might 

 well disport in the streams of the happy fields beyond. 



" Now, my lads," says the master, " take your places. 

 Tom, stand you next to me ; Sandy, go on the other 

 side of Tom ; and do you, Jamie, keep in the middle, 

 and take tent to cap the boats well over the rapids. 

 Rob, do you and Tom Purdie keep good lights and fell 

 the fish. Hulloo, Tom, you have smuggled a leister 

 into the boat for your own use." 



" Aye, aye, that have I, juist for mine ain deversion, 

 ye ken." 



"Well, well, you may just keep it, for you are a 

 stout chiel, and it would be hard work to get it from 

 you ; besides, no one can use it more dexterously than 

 yourself. Now, then, we will push the boat up the 

 cheek of the stream till we come to the head of it. 

 That will do. Now shoot her across the gorge, and 

 down she goes merrily, broadside foremost, according 

 to rule. Cap, Charlie, cap, man ; we are drifting down 

 like mad ; keep back your end of the boat." 



" Aweel, aweel, she gangs cannily now ; look, uncle, a 

 muckle fish before ye, or ever ye kent ; the maister's 

 leister gaed through him, and played auld dife. That 

 side, that side, Jamie ; he's rinnin up to get past. Od, 

 ye have him ; and I ha'e anither, and anither. Keep a 

 guid licht, Tom. Now let us tak' up the boat to the 

 head of the stream, or ever we look the stanes, for there 

 war- a muckle fish gaed by that nane o' ye gomerils 

 ever saw. There, we are high eneuch now ; haud yer 



