CORRACH-BAH ; OR, A PLEA FOR THE WASTES. 239 



means done up yet. Every time that I brought him to the 

 shallow, he dashed away with as much 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 nowadays, and all the fishing guides 

 there are as proud of their gentlemen'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 Glenlivet 

 was soon uncorked ; and when I was taking my modicum, 

 mixed with the clear water of the spring, I overheard Johnny 

 complaining of the scarcity of the " sma' stells which were 

 ance thick eneuch on Loch Ow," and reprobating the tryanny 

 of our rulers, " wha hinnered folk frae doin' what they liket best 

 theirsels wi' their ain pickle barley." Sandy likes his whisky 

 raw, but is " very fond o' a drap water after' t ! " The first 

 time I gave him a glass into his paralytic hand, he spilt about 

 two-thirds. I now insist upon holding the glass to his mouth 



