102 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



solemn mass. A faint light twinkled for a space 

 among the tombstones ; soon it was extinct, and 

 two figures passed off in the shadow, who had been 

 digging a grave even at that late hour. 



As the night advanced, a change began to take 

 place. Clouds heaved up over the horizon ; the 

 wind was heard in murmurs ; the rack hurried 

 athwart the moon ; and utter darkness fell upon 

 river, mountain, and haugh. Then the gust swelled 

 louder, and the storm struck fierce and sudden 

 against the casement. But as the morrow dawned, 

 though the rain-drops still hung upon the leaf, the 

 clouds sailed away, the sun broke forth, and all 

 was fair and tranquil. 



The fisherman was sent for express. His apparel 

 may be taken as a general sample of the garb of the 

 piscator on that river, where " Flora discloses her 

 beauties " par excellence. A hat with salmon flies 

 round the crown, the loop of each gut being passed 

 over the head of a pin stuck into the said hat, and 

 the barb of the hook fastened into the felt. The 

 bonnet on such occasions is laid aside. A short coat 

 or jacket ; waistcoat according to fancy ; blue 

 pantaloons ; and a pair of colossal shoes, studded 

 with splatter-headed nails. 



' Well, Wattie, I am glad you are come ; for you 

 shall see me catch a dozen salmon to-day." 



' ' You mun be a warlock then ; for the deil a mon 

 atween Bolside and Kelso, beside yoursel, wull tak 

 ae saumon the day. If ye were even to throw the 

 Lady* of Mertoun into the water, they wud na look 



* The Flower of Yarrow, married to Scott of Harden. 



