INTRODUCTORY 29 



continued to behave as if possessed, it was obvious 

 that John and I were both in error. Each minnow- 

 had successfully allured a fish. 



In the experience of the boatman the incident was 

 unprecedented, and it had on him a singular effect. 

 Excitement overwhelmed him. The very boat, thrill- 

 ing through all her timbers, seemed to share his 

 perturbation as net in hand he sat tremblingly awaiting 

 the event. He was, for the moment, incapable of 

 action ; had the fish come quickly to the surface, we 

 must have been deprived of his assistance in reducing 

 them into possession. Even the faculty of speech 

 forsook him ; not until the first tumultuous upheaval 

 of surprise subsided did his whirling thoughts find 

 utterance. "It beats a','' he falteringly exclaimed, 

 when his tongue at length resumed its office ; " I've 

 fi'fished-this loch-for-fi'five an' twenty year-an' I've 

 ne'never seen-the li'like o' that before." Happily his 

 agitation quickly passed, and by the time we were 

 ready for his intervention his hand had quite regained 

 its accustomed skill. But it was long before he ceased 

 to wonder at our amazing- luck. 



Since, when the cook exposed its internal anatomy, 

 it was discovered that my fish was filled with ripening 

 ova, I am disposed to question the accuracy of the 



