100 THE SCOTTISH ANGLER. 



figures, some fully exposed, others dimly visible, and 

 thrown suddenly into view by the intervention of a 

 stream of red light ; the surrounding extent of moorland 

 and pasture, embellished with a few gaunt trees and a 

 mouldering tower ; here a solitary sheep-fence, there a 

 quiet hut ; and, with these, the strange intermixture of 

 human voices all necessarily must work upon the ima- 

 gination with a power and vividness which is seldom 

 experienced among the more ordinary elements of poetry 

 and romance. 



But here is a gallant chase, worth fifty fox-hunts. 

 No tiny fish have they started, or we mistake, but a 

 twenty pounder at least, judging from the huge tail, 

 which is helming it along the shallows. How it scuds, 

 like the dolphin bark of Arion, or a rainbow rocket, 

 throwing up ruby sparks ! What a brilliant track of 

 fire is there in its rear ! And now it has escaped the 

 ford, and the discharge of not a few leisters from the 

 stragglers above ; and here it is, in a long, dark, nar- 

 row pool, with a hollow bank of clay at one side, the 

 other a flat layer of pebbles ; it swims now more at its 

 ease, in a sort of fancied security, although still rest- 

 less, and every now and then probing with its chin the 

 indentations and cavities of the left-hand embankment. 



And now it is concealed from notice by the agitated 

 state of the water, into which, through means of its 

 snout, it has shaken down no inconsiderable quantity 

 of clay ; but the random search of Wat Amos's leister 

 has again compelled it to trust to its fins, and it dashes 

 up, in fine style, through a series of pools, followed by 

 the whole group of sportsmen. A slight contortion of 

 the tail indicates that it has received some small in- 

 jury, but its speed is scarcely diminished, and it slips, 

 almost miraculously, from under the shower of leisters 

 with which again it is rapidly assailed. 



