ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 159 



and allow us to pass. Gad, Doctor, yonder comes 

 Jack Leister at full speed. 



Swivel. And in the nick of time. Ho! master 

 keeper, no slinking ! an thou goest, carry thy gun 

 with thee ; 'tis within reach, and will pop out splen- 

 did bilge-water. Art pettish, forsooth ? stay then, 

 and file in with thy comrades. Marry! we shall 

 find law to redress us, seeing you have been handled 

 so smoothly. Assault with intent of robbery ! 'tis 

 no light offence, mark you ! 



1st Keeper. We had the laird's orders. 



Swivel. Your laird's orders, friend! what! to 

 plunder us of our property, and, in case of resist- 

 ance, level a barrel at our heads? Who is this 

 laird of yours that is so absolute ? By Jove ! he 

 hath rare power now-a-days, that can frame his own 

 statutes! But go your ways, and learn to give the 

 laws reverence. Were we so minded, you might 

 find this matter one of some cost. Well, Jack, 

 whence come you ? 



Exeunt KEEPERS. 



Enter LEISTER. 



Leister. Across from Loch Luichart, with intent 

 to take a cast hereabouts on my way to the inn. 

 But what has happened, Doctor? 



Swivel. Only a tussle with some of the laird's 

 keepers, the particulars of which I shall recount to 

 thee on our road homeward. How has it fared 

 with thee, Jack, in the way of sport ? 



