71 THE EOUTE RESUMED. 



I passed a promising runnel. Twice or thrice a salmon 

 rose, but only timidly in the shallow water, and I did 

 not succeed in hooking any. Before leaving the stream, 

 however, I had secured three sea-trout, one of which 

 afforded excellent sport, fighting most valiantly, and 

 defying my utmost efforts for full ten minutes. 



Arrived at the inn, I was presently joined by Alister, 

 with five fish, another having been caught after my 

 departure, making in all five salmon ; which, with the 

 addition of my three sea-trout, formed a goodly com- 

 pany, at least as the production of one pool. The 

 salmon weighed between seven and nine pounds each, 

 and the trout two pounds, three pounds and a half, 

 and four pounds respectively. 



Our booty was now stowed carefully away in the 

 bottom of the dogcart, wrapped in moist rushes ; and our 

 Highland pony being re-yoked, who started off as gaily 

 as though only now leaving the stable for the first time, 

 we speedily left Glen Chruim in the rear. 



Our route still continued along the shore of the 

 frith, which was now rapidly narrowing and assuming 

 more and more the character of a river, as it wound 

 round the bases of the hills and uplands that rose 

 from its tortuous bed. 



We passed several fishermen mending their nets, 

 the season for netting salmon being now passed ; their 

 boats were lying at intervals of from fifty to two hun- 

 dred yards along the bank. It is, indeed, a marvel 

 how the salmon in their ascent succeed in escaping 

 enemies so numerous and indefatigable. Not only 

 have they to elude the seal and the otter, the latter of 

 which proves a constant foe, up to the very highest 

 parts of the river ; but the nets of the fishermen, 

 dovetailing together as they do from the opposite banks, 



