74 AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 



near shore sloped away most invitingly, and 

 although the opposite bank looked a little steep 

 as I threw a hurried glance across, yet at that 

 moment I never anticipated any difficulty in 

 reaching it. When about half way over, how- 

 ever, I found myself suddenly out of my depth, 

 holding up my rod with one hand, and with the 

 other trying to assist my over-weighted legs in 

 swimming across a far more arduous task than 

 I had imagined. Arrived there, however, I found 

 that my troubles had only just begun. I struggled 

 in vain to climb the perpendicular side. I felt as 

 if a ton weight was fastened to each leg, and at 

 last, after repeated exertions, became so exhausted 

 that, with a sudden consciousness of immediate 

 danger, I dropped the rod, held on with both 

 hands at the edge of the bank, and once more 

 strained every effort to ascend. All in vain : so 

 throwing myself on my back, I succeeded in 

 swimming with the greatest difficulty to the oppo- 

 site shore, and felt not a little thankful when I 

 reached it again in safety. 



The sequel of this adventure will probably 

 astonish the reader as much as it surprised myself 

 at the time. Getting rid quickly of my water-logged 

 boots, and throwing off my coat, I swam again 

 across the stream and ran along the side of the 



