94 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



Street : the grey differed with me widely in opinion, 

 and was ambitious of the Square ; round which (if 

 I may use the expression) he galloped with un- 

 necessary haste, till he met my fellow-traveller 

 at the bottom, and we passed each other in grand 

 style, our nags being considerably animated by 

 the " lumbering of the wheels." Not once alone did 

 this happen ; and before our coursers could be 

 gained over to our opinion, Charing Cross possessed 

 the curricle, and Hanover Square could boast of the 

 tilbury. Our skill might reasonably be questioned 

 our perseverance could not ; for before midnight 

 we rallied, and urged our reluctant beasts to the 

 dulness of Stilton. From henceforth everything 

 went on smoothly with them ; except that the chest- 

 nut died of the distemper, and the grey fell out of a 

 crazy boat into Loch Lomond, ran away some time 

 afterwards, overturned the vehicle, broke my un- 

 fortunate servant's leg, and lamed himself for life. 



We journeyed on to Selkirk in juvenile mood. 

 From hence my friends went to Edinburgh, where 

 I agreed to join them. And now comes the point 

 what made me, Harry Otter, a fisher for salmon ? 

 Why thus it was I went forth, after my arrival at 

 the aforesaid town, at the hour of prime. I asked 

 no questions, for I cannot endure to hear beforehand 

 what sort of sport I am likely to have. Sober truth 

 is sometimes exceedingly distressing, and brings 

 one's mind to a lull ; it puts an end to the sublimity 

 of extravagant speculation, which I hold to be the 

 chief duty of a sportsman. So, as I said, I asked no 

 questions ; but I saw the river Ettrick before me 



