26 ARDENMOHR, 



the top of the glen, to the game- watcher's hut ; here 

 we divided, the Major and Fred going straight over 

 hill, while Ward and I (under guidance of the keeper) 

 went round to get to the lower waters. 



It still rained a little, but Archie, the keeper, said 

 it would soon clear, as the wind was rising. And 

 Archie was right ; before long the mists began to 

 rise up-hill, the breeze freshened, and the day cleared 

 up beautifully. 



We now came upon the sparkling waters, and 

 heard the rushing sounds so musical to the fisher- 

 man's ear. Archie had led us down to a broad, 

 dark pool ; deep and rough at the farther side, and 

 which he said " whiles held a gude fish.'* 



I took my rod and at once proceeded to fix up, and 

 when carefully binding the splices with well-waxed 

 twine, Archie looked up approvingly, nodded, and 

 said, " That's wise like, sir." 



" What is wise like, Archie ?" 



" It's your tie rod. When I see a tie rod I'm sure 

 enough its owner can fish, for learners or bad fishers 

 dinna like the trouble of tying splices ; or mair likely 

 they're no aware that it is lighter and casts farther 

 than the ither." 



This was encouragement, as Archie is rather of a 



