THE GOVERNOE CAST. 359 



these parts but the Maister that kens how to fush siccan pool as ' Pol-o- 

 dour ' ava." 



And with a few more disparaging remarks of a similar character, 

 Ewan took himself off indoors to get rid of his burden of course, at the 

 bar. 



" Pol-o-dour," I may here state is the local name of a certain deep 

 pool on a river, the name of which I withhold for various reasons. It has 

 the peculiarity about it that the catches are fishable only when the river 

 is at its very lowest. As a matter of fact, the place never comes into 

 ply until the rest of the " Casts " look as ludicrously small from want of 

 water as the local men look from want of sport. All the fish in the 

 immediate neighbourhood make for the pool and congregate there by the 

 dozen, but the Fishermen never could command it. The pool itself is 

 long, still, and broad perhaps seventy yards in width and very " dour." 

 It is fished from one bank only, high, over-hanging rocks fringing the 

 opposite side. However, in the course of a few minutes Ewan returned 

 to the front of the house where the others were sitting, and the conversa- 

 tion was resumed. In the meantime he had tossed off a " caulker " of 

 whisky at my request, for he was wet to the very bone, and was now 

 disposed to be still more communicative. 



" Hech, sirs," he began, addressing his audience generally, while I 

 sat finishing a cigar after getting rid of my waders and the " wee 

 drappie" left in the flask, " it wad hae done ye hearts gude to hae 

 daunered alang the banks wi' me the day and seen the maister bang oot 

 the flee, rnair by token that ye wad then ha' been able to joodge o' his 

 seestem." 



" ' Seestum ' that's a deectionary word, and what maun that be like," 

 asked Sandy, jumping on tip toe. 



" Whist, mon, he joost has a plan o' his ain, and covers ' Pol-o-dour ' 

 frae the top to the bottom o't." 



" Ye'll no mak me believe that Ewan, it's na' in the power o' no 

 f usher whatiffer," 



" ' Deed ay, but I will, Sandy, an' if ye'll come wi' me in the morn, 

 I'll be bound the maister will be right pleased to show ye the seestem 

 his ain sel." 



