236 THE BURNING. 



the fish partook of the same colour. I sent thirty -five 

 brace of these fish, all similar in size, a considerable 

 distance lower down the stream, when they were put 

 under a bridge near my house. Many of them died. 

 But in three hours after the removal I caught eight of 

 the others with a fly without moving from the spot : 

 neither the size nor the colour of the fish could possibly 

 be mistaken. 



THE BURNING. 



" Charlie, Charlie," cried Thomas Jamieson, " there's 

 fine sport going on the night ; our maister's minded to 

 burn the water, for she is low enough, ye ken; so ane o' 

 us will hae to gang and split the twa auld tar barrels for 

 lights, an' the ither mun slidder up to Abbotsford and 

 tell your uncle Tarn what's ganging forrat, and say that 

 he has to meet us at the Carrywheel at aight o'clock 

 preceesely. Charlie, ye'd best do the lights yoursel', and 

 111 hae to win to Darnick, and get the wasters aw new 

 sharpened. Sandy and Rob will come nae doobt, and 

 we should hae auld Wat too ; but if he has been fou 

 yestreen, he'll no be worth a bawbee." 



" Ye need na fash yoursel' aboot the like o' him, for 

 he had a wee drap. I saw him the morn riddling a cart 

 fu' o' sand lyin' again the house end, which he said he 

 was making ready for biggin ; and as I was coming 

 awa' auld Janet gie me a wag wi' her finger, and I gist 

 steppit in. 'What do ye think?' says she; 'the auld 

 vagabun was fou yestreen, and he gaed out as he thought 

 unseen by ony ; a' watched him, and he hid his siller 

 amang the sand, for he aye thinks I grap his pouches 



