240 AN ANGLER'S SEASON 



" Has he cast the evil eye upon many 

 of them?" 



" On nane ava' that we can be quite 

 sure aboot," John answered, in a tone less 

 burdened by apprehension. "But that's 

 nae doobt because he hasna' had need to." 



This was puzzling ; but John ex- 

 plained. 



"Peter is compairatively a stranger 

 here. He's been i' this pairish only three 

 years come Martinmas. But the gowfers 

 werena' long in findin' oot that they had 

 made a waefu' bad bargain when they 

 appinted him to keep the green. For ae 

 reason or anither, there's no' a man 

 among them that's no' carefu' no' to 

 offend Peter. In fac', he's the terror o' 

 the countryside." 



" Where did he come from ? " 



"Oot o' Logierait, far ower the hills 

 there," said John, waving a hand towards 

 the north. " The Club didna' ken onything 

 aboot him when they brocht him here 

 except what they were tell't in his 

 testimonials. What was pit into his 



