MEMORIES OF GLENAUGH. 95 



up the sides of Glenaugh, and comes back to 

 say he's "afraid 'tis thickenin' in the clear." 

 This is an involved expression, which means 

 that in that particular quarter of the heavens 

 from which hope of truce might be held out 

 there was no longer that promise. What is to 

 be done ? 



My uncle takes down his fly-book and a 

 box holding all sorts of stuff for the making 

 of the lures by which the silver salmon or the 

 golden trout are brought to the bank. For a 

 while I am sufficiently amused examining the 

 various odds and ends which this box holds. 

 In one corner of it is a wonderful bottle 

 which must not be lightly spoken of. The 

 liquid in the phial is almost as precious as the 

 elixir of life. You might guess for ever with- 

 out hitting off its use. It is only to true be- 

 lievers that Joe reveals the secrets of the 

 mixture. It is intended for nothing less than 

 the generation of worms. Joe swears that it 

 accelerates the ordinary process, and has also 

 the effect of rendering the bait tough and 

 lively. I would not Advise any naturalist or 

 chemist to contradict him. 



