190 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



ere four in the afternoon there was mustered betwixt 

 us above three stone weight ! By this time, we 

 had angled over a considerable portion of Meggat- 

 water, and had reached, almost in company with 

 each other, the dark, deep pools lying imme- 

 diately above the Kirk. These, we well knew, 

 contained a number of prime and subtle fish to be 

 captured only when the water, as at that time, was 

 of a dark porter-colour. Accordingly we threw off 

 our somewhat worn and dismantled flies, exchang- 

 ing them for others of a larger and brighter sort, 

 and, tossing for the choice pool, commenced care- 

 fully to rake the water-surface. Almost at the 

 same moment, each of us happened upon a sturdy 

 two-pounder. They fought like heroes, throwing 

 themselves at full length out of the pool, and push- 

 ing straight up against the current. Now they relaxed 

 a little, and shewed their sides. They gasped sub- 

 mission, and our bended wands brought them to the 

 margin. How lovely they looked, lying among the 

 pebbles, not as if in agony they felt none but 

 like a tribute- offering devoted to us, their con- 

 querors ; and in our creels lovelier still, curled up 

 over the rest of their tribe, seemingly their monarchs 

 or their patriarch sires! These creels were full, 

 crammed to the lid, ere we arrived at the Render - 

 land-rocks; but the Shepherd had a game-bag, and I 

 an honestly huge couple of coat-pockets, so that we 

 lacked betwixt us no store-room ! 



St Mary's Loch was again in view, but not as at 



