44 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



at it, and, seizing the bright wings between my 

 lips, was prepared, at least, to carry it down 

 with me, to be swallowed or not, as might 

 happen ; when, to my amazement and alarm, 

 ere I could as much as turn away after nry 

 spring, the creature snatched itself from out 

 my very jaws, and vanished as it had previously 

 done. Sulky and annoyed, I sought again my 

 resting-place, and again I heard the same voice 

 which had before spoken, 



" ' Deed, sir, ye were just ower hasty again ; 

 ye dinna let the fash tak' a grip of the flee 

 before you snatch it out of his mouth.' 



" ' Never mind, Sandy; we'll try again.' 



" ' A'm thinking I'll just change the flee ; 

 mebbe he's seen ower muckle of this ane.' 



" Read from the light of after-experience, 

 these words were plain enough ; but, young 

 and inexperienced as I was, they conveyed no 

 meaning, no warning, and it can hardly be 

 wondered at that, tantalized as I had been, 

 no sooner did I see a creature similar in form 

 and habit to the other, but somewhat larger 

 and brighter, apparently striving to stem the 

 stream a little above me, than, again dashing 

 at it, I seized it firmly in my teeth, and, 



