350 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



sharp spur. His master used to boast that he never tired or 

 fell off in condition. This panegyric always reminded me of 

 a lazy " minister's man " whose master had turned him off for 

 this fault alone. The minister (who assured me " he would 

 not tell a fib for all the world "), having occasion to be from 

 home the week before the term, knew that his factotum would 

 do literally nothing when he was absent, unless he bribed him 

 with a good character. He therefore wrote in large text the 

 words, " Sober, honest," &c., and wound up by " he gives sure 

 evidence of being a very durable servant " double- dashing 

 the last three words. The " man " was delighted with his 

 certificate, particularly the compliment at the end, promised 

 to do all justice to the glebe till his master's return, and kept 

 his word. 



My friend met me at the door of Garth House, accepted 

 the fish as sufficient apology for my late return, admired it 

 to my heart's content, and expressed his determination (as he 

 had never seen a salmon landed) to accompany me on the 

 next fishing-day. 



On the 13th of September the spring-cart was early at the 

 door. Including charioteer Danie, we were a party of five, 

 to Strawberry Dumple's intense disgust, who firmly held with 

 the doctor, when ordered to swallow a box of his own pills, 

 that " one of us was a dose " up Glenlyon brae. He evidently 

 seemed to think our unwonted weight a bitter pill ; and both 

 he and his master tacitly agreed to walk all the way, unless 

 when we coaxed them into a shambling amble now and then 

 down-hill. 



As our friend wore thin shoes, and the walk from the cart 

 to the first pool was damp, we agreed that I should try it 

 alone, and the party drive on and wait for me at the " road 

 pool," about a quarter of a mile farther forward. Hitherto, I 

 had been unfortunate in this pool, having lost the only fish I 

 ever moved in it. This time, however, a heavy salmon rushed 

 up at the tail of the stream and hooked firm. He made a 



