TOM PURDIE'S MUCKLE FISH. 197 



to Traquair to the kirk, but took a walk by the river 

 side ; there were a vast o' fish in the water, and I saw 

 ane or twae great roeners turning, a sure sign there 

 were mickle kippers too. I had dandered down to 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 off the 

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

 began to work. I kend by a clour in the water a gay 

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

 drew cannily forrit. 'Odd, sir ! my verra heart lap to 

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

 a red stirk than ought else muve off 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 

 Sabbath, and I should not hae been there. It might be a 

 delusion o' the enemy, if it was na the deil himseP. I 

 stude and consider'd. I had never seen the deil i' day- 

 light, and forbye there was just then a great brown 

 rowaner slade off 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 toon. Peggy aiblins hadna 

 likit my hankering about the throat on sic a day, and 

 she had slippit in to the house, and didna come out 



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