OCTOBER 259 



Forby, he needs long legs that wud run 

 frae ye ken wha, Sir." 



" Pooh, John 1 I see neither tail nor 

 horns, and I don't think there are hoofs." 



John said something which from his 

 tone I knew to be reproachfully argu- 

 mentative ; but I did not really hear him. 

 Suddenly I had a new cause for anxiety. 

 Had It a definite beat ? How far down 

 was It going ? Would It stop and turn 

 where It had stopped and turned before ? 

 If It should lead the fish down the river 

 farther than the line would reach from 

 the end of my own beat, I should have but 

 little chance of coming out of this tussle 

 in triumph. 



Again involuntary words must have 

 escaped. 



" Beg pardon, Sir ? " 



" Nothing, John. Only, I was think- 

 ing of asking It to stop. If It goes far 

 down and the fish goes too, we're done, 

 I'm afraid. Will you shout, John ? " 



" No' me, Sir, unless ye gi'e positive 

 orders. I shouldna' like to be askin' 



