THE "WHUSTLER " 255 



theory which I had been cherishing in 

 secret, and for a moment I thought of 

 broaching the argument to Ronald. A 

 discontented gillie, however, is not an 

 appreciative audience for speculative 

 thought ; and I held my peace on all 

 save the topic of the hour. 



"Well, we're off again," said I, 

 cheerily, hoping to quiz Ronald out of 

 the doldrums. 



" Quite so," he answered ; " and practi- 

 cally, sir, — practically, mind ye — it's a 

 new salmon we ha'e to deal wi' — just as 

 fresh and ferocious as if she had only 

 this minute risen at the flee." To 

 himself he added, muttering, " And a 

 bonnie time o' nicht to begin the day's 

 sport ! " 



I could not understand Ronald. As a 

 rule he was the best of gillies, grudging 

 neither time nor trouble in the pursuit of 

 game, keen and joyous as Tim the terrier 

 in a rabbit warren. There are bonnie 

 lasses in Balquhidder ; and Ronald is a 

 youthful warworn hero ; and perhaps 



