THE COLONEL S WAGER. 209 



" Julius has been here before us, and has left some 

 mementoes of his visit," said the Colonel, pointing to 

 foot-marks in the sand, and blood and fish-scales upon the 

 pebbles ; ** I fear our bet is in jeopardy ; verily, our 

 worthy relative will never shame the proverb, that 

 ' De'il's bairns have de'il's luck ! ' But what can the 

 matter be among the salmon ? In faith, the pool appears 

 bewitched." 



As he spoke I remarked the occurrence which the 

 commander noticed. The fish, which upon our first 

 arrival had risen merrily at the natural flies, ceased on 

 a sudden altogether — now they rushed confusedly 

 through the water or threw themselves for yards 

 along the surface. It was not the sullen plunge 

 at an insect, or the vertical spring, when sport, 

 not food, brings the salmon over water ; but it 

 was evident there was some hidden cause of alarm, and 

 we were not long left in doubt. Near the neck of the 

 pool an otter of the largest size showed himself for a 

 moment, then darting under water, the same commotion 

 ensued again. Before a minute elapsed, Andy Bawn 

 pointed silently to a shoal beneath an overhanging bush, 

 and there was the spoiler, apparently resting himself 

 after his successful exertions, and holding a four-pound 

 white trout in his mouth. Either he noticed us, or had 

 some more favourite haunt to feed in, for he glided 

 into the deep water, and we saw no more of him. 



Although we found out that the otter and ourselves 

 could not manage to fish in company, we ascertained 

 that the pool was abundantly stocked with salmon ; 

 during the period of the greatest alarm, at least a dozen 

 fish were breaking the surface at the same time. 



We reached the cabin after a day of excellent sport ; 



P 



