24 CORRACH-BAH j OR, 



vigour as before. This could not last; and the bursts 

 became shorter and slower, till my victim was unable to 

 get down at all, and only struggled on the top of the 

 water. I had ample opportunity to admire his dimensions, 

 colour, and shape, and was determined that no rashness or 

 eagerness to obtain it should rob me of so rich a prize. 

 At last he turned upon his broad and gleaming side. 

 Now was my time. And like a wrecked and gallant 

 vessel he lay stranded on the beach ! 



A proud man was Sandy M'Kenzie then. He took 

 entire possession of the fish, and would hardly let Johnny 

 look at it ; if he ventured to touch it, he met a stern 

 rebuke. Well did Sandy know how rare it was to come 

 across a trout of that size in Loch Awe now-a-days, and 

 all the fishing guides there are as proud of their gentle- 

 men's performances as if they were their own. They 

 reckon their honour concerned, and banter each other 

 about the failure of their employers as reflecting upon 

 their own want of knowledge of the haunts of the 

 fish. 



We now sat down upon a green bank, close to the 

 Gled's Nest wood, and had out our little basket of 

 refreshments. I gave Sandy a plentiful supply for both. 

 "Now, Sandy, eat your fill, and give Johnny the leavings." 

 This is a favourite joke with Sandy, and Johnny is 

 obliged to shield himself from its point by chuckling as 

 heartily as he can. The Glenlivat was soon uncorked ; 

 and when I was taking my modicum, mixed with the clear 

 water of the spring, I overheard Johnny complaining of 



