16 AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 



rienced salmon-fisher will coincide in my opinion 

 that in a rapid stream, with well-defined pools, it 

 is better to dispense with its services, and that an 

 indescribable charm is added to the sport by ab- 

 staining from any further aid than is afforded by 

 a perfect Macintosh equipment, and the attend- 

 ance of a clever clipper. 



Apropos to this subject, I must tell you some- 

 thing of the individual who now accompanied me 

 in that capacity. My first experience of him was 

 at the commencement of the previous season. 

 He was then a little boy about twelve years of age, 

 and hardly strong enough, or tall enough, as I 

 fancied, to gaff a large salmon, or wade after me 

 into deep water, as would occasionally be neces- 

 sary. But there was something very promising 

 about him. He was remarkably quiet, and taci- 

 turn, and although at first a little awkward, yet, 

 before a month had elapsed, I found that, from 

 his natural intelligence, his love of the sport, and 

 his amphibious habits, he possessed, in embryo, 

 all the qualifications of a perfect aquatic gillie. 

 He soon became an adept with the clip, seldom 

 missing when he had a fair chance, and rarely 

 throwing one away ; while to his coolness and 

 presence of mind in moments of difficulty, during 

 a long and exciting run, I have since frequently 



