286 - PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



I'll just charge you five pund sterling for. I'm thinking 

 you'll na deem that ower muckle ; but if I didna like your 

 cut, twenty pund, let alone five, wouldna hae let you aboard. 

 And I suppose it's a' right ; and gin you'll jist wait till I 

 get scraped, I can gie you a glass of real Islay that nare 

 was gauged by exciseman." Soon the scraping operation 

 was performed to his satisfaction, and a black bottle was 

 produced, the contents of which fully reached the proper 

 standard of excellence, if strength is considered to consti- 

 tute it. In the mean time the captain had got ready to 

 go on shore, and Jock was summoned for final instructions ; 

 but the deck-hands stated that he was not on board, but fish- 

 ing off the end of the dock. A stentorian shout summoned 

 the truant. With line in hand, and a string of flounders, 

 he made his appearance. "How dar'st you gang ashore 

 wi'out my permission ? You're mair bother than the whole 

 ship's company, you de'il's buckey,you ! Yinst we get hame, 

 your mither maun keep you to hersel' ; for though she be 

 my ain sister, I'll no be langer fashed wi' the likes o' you. 

 Now listen to me : hae dinner sharp at two ; see that the 

 cook dinna boil the haggis ower muckle; and set twa 

 plates. You'll tak your dinner wi' me, sir; I hae got a 

 real Scotch haggis, and the likes you maybe nare tasted 

 afore. I'll tak no refusal, mon, unless you're promised to 

 a friend." With pleasure I accepted the invitation, and, 

 much pleased with both captain and schooner, returned to 

 the hotel to pack my traps and make final arrangements 

 before sailing. Sharp at two I was again on board, and the 

 agreeable odor which pervaded the craft, if it rose from the 

 haggis, was a guarantee of future excellence. The captain 

 welcomed me with great warmth, and expressed hopes that 

 we should have a rapid and pleasant passage, but at the 

 same time informed me that there was no more kittlish 

 navigation in the world, excepting it be on his own native 



