THE TWENTY-SIX-POUNDER 263 



accompany the laird to a neighbouring shoot, where 

 three guns were asked, or would he try the river ? 

 He elected to try the river. Dickson, the keeper, 

 accompanied the laird and his two sons to the shoot, 

 but the gardener's boy knew the river, and would 

 accompany Henry ; and accordingly a party of two 

 appeared on the bank of the railway-bridge pool 

 shortly after the morning train had passed, and the 

 line was clear for some hours. A small c Jock Scott,' 

 a prawn, and a tempting bunch of worms, were 

 scientifically presented at due intervals one after the 

 other for the salmon's acceptance, but without any 

 result. A small minnow was spun artistically down 

 the pool, and left severely alone by the fish. 



' Davy,' said the angler, ' just get up on the bridge 

 and look over the pool.' 



It was as well to be sure that the fish was there. 

 The October sun had just come out, and from the 

 lofty bridge the river-bed was plainly visible. 



' Tell me what you see, Davy.' 



4 Aa see twa fush lying by the muckle stane. Eh ! 

 and ane's a gude yin: a score of pund at the varra 

 least, sir.' Then, in a different tone, Davy remarked: 

 4 Aa see McTavish coming fra the toon, sir.' 



McTavish was the village constable, and keenly 

 interested withal in fishing. He strolled down the 

 road, and watched the proceedings with much interest 

 from a convenient gate. Davy lay low on the bridge 

 and our angler put a small ' Wilkinson ' carefully 

 over the pool from top to bottom in his very best 

 form, without result. 



' Any sport the day, sir ?' 



' None as yet,' was the reply ; and presently 

 McTavish moved on. 



