INTRODUCTORY 27 



at once an uninviting monochrome in grey. We 

 assumed the prevailing tone. 



But though grief may endure for a night, joy cometh 

 in the morning. The following day broke bright and 

 sunny, and its radiance was communicated to our 

 thoughts. After an early breakfast, despatched in 

 haste, we embarked under the care of the genial John 

 M'Kellar, whose cheery optimism dispelled all that 

 remained of our fears, and awoke our hopes anew. 



" What do you think of the day ? " we asked, as 

 our barque was launched upon the deep. 



"I like the look o't," was the reply, "though the 

 win' micht be a wee thing heavier. But it'll maybe 

 rise gin twelve o'clock, an' if it does we should get a 

 fish ; yesterday's rain must hae brocht some up." 



" Where will you take us ? " we next enquired, 

 although in our ignorance of the water his answer was 

 unlikely to instruct us much. 



" I'll tak ye," said he, " to the Rhu Point ; if there's 

 a sawmon aboot at a' it'll be there. But mind ye," he 

 warned us, " there's twa boats aheid o' us, an' I wudna 

 wunner but they'll hae gruppit onything that's gaun." 



As we had only a few hours at our disposal and 

 were anxious to multiply our chances, we each put out 

 a trolling-rod, while with our fly-rods we cast industri- 



