A Sportsman at Large 131 



" Here, I say, Cockle," he exclaimed as he came up, " this 

 will never do ! We've struck El Dorado evidently. Let's 

 knock off here and now. We will take a brace of fish " (he 

 also had accounted for two nice ones,) " up to old MacMush, 

 tell him we have had less than an hour's fishing and would 

 be most grateful if he would allow us to come to-morrow 

 and enjoy a whole day ? 



This seemed reasonable, so I agreed. 



These tactics panned out all right, and the next day found 

 us shoulder to shoulder descending the incline which led to 

 this delightfully productive lakelet. 



At first we strolled, then, as I increased my pace, my com- 

 panion followed suit. At last our progression ended in a break- 

 neck sprint between us for the best section of the water. 



I won by the length of my rod ! 



It would serve no purpose to enter into details of that day's 

 sport. It was wonderful ! We were catching these vora- 

 cious farios off and on all day. My biggest was a beauty of 

 three-and-a-quarter pounds, and I had many over two pounds. 

 Teddy's tally was almost the equal of mine. 



But oh ! he led me into a most disreputable course of action. 

 He insisted on my laying out one miserable trout of about 

 half-a-pound on my side of the lake, whilst he ostentatiously 

 displayed a brace of unconsidered trifles whose combined 

 weight was certainly short of twenty ounces, on his. 



All the rest of our opulent spoils were carefully camouflaged 

 in an adjoining ditch. 



When the ghillie came on the scene Teddy showed him our 

 " exhibits," with a sad shake of the head. 



" Not much sport, MacNair," he said. " I suppose there 

 are some decent fish here ! " 



" Oo aye ! an' mony o' them ! Man, I hae' seen fush o' 

 foor, aye, an' five poun taken fra heer ! " 



" Do you think the Laird would give us another day ? " 



" Na, ma Mannie, Tinspoon wud'na ; he himself is mighty 

 par-teecular. Onny way, ye can speer, but Ah'm thenkin' it's 

 na guid. Sae, I'll be speerin' ye guid nicht the noo, and 

 thank ye kindly." (This last as I handed him half a sovereign.) 

 And away he stalked. 



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