Two

August, in pursuit of black game. parent eagles were teaching their offspring -two young birds, the manœuvres of flight. They began by rising from the top of a mountain in the eye of the sun, (it was about mid-day, and bright for this climate). They at first made small circles, and the young birds imitated them; they paused on their wings, waiting till they had made their first flight, and then took a second and larger gyration,—always rising towards the sun, and enlarging their circle of flight so as to make a gradually extending spiral. The young ones still slowly followed, apparently flying better as they mounted; and they continued this sublime kind of exercise, always rising till they became mere points in the air, and the young ones were lost, and afterwards their parents, to our aching sight. But we have touched the shore, and the lake has terminated: you are now on the river Ewe.

POIET.-Are we to fish here? It is a broad clear stream, but I see no fish, and cannot think it a good angling river.

HAL.-We are nearly a mile above our fishing station, and we must first see our quarters and provide for our lodging, before we begin our fishing: we must walk a little way before we find the inn.

POIET.-Why this inn is a second edition of Auchnasheen.

HAL.-The interior is better than the exterior, thanks to the Laird of Brahan: we shall find one tolerable room and bed; and we must put up our cots and provide our food. What is our store, Mr. Purveyor?

PHYS.-I know we have good bread, tea, and sugar. Then there is the quarter of roebuck we got at Gordon Castle; and Ornither has furnished us with a brace of wild ducks, three leash of snipes, and a brace of golden plovers, by his mountain expedition of yesterday; and for fish we depend on you. Yet our host says there are fresh herrings to be had, and small cod-fish, and salmon and trout in any quantity, and the claret and the Ferintosh are safe.

HAL.-Why we shall fare sumptuously. As it is not time yet for shooting grouse, we

must divide our spoil for the few days we shall stay here. Yet there are young snipes and plovers on the mountains above, and I have no doubt we might obtain the Laird's permission to kill a roebuck in the woods or a hart in the mountains; but this is always an uncertain event, and I advise you Ornither to become a fisherman.

ORN.-I shall wait till I see the results of your skill. At all events, in this country I can never want amusement, and I dare say there are plenty of seals at the mouth of the river, and killing them is more useful to other fishermen, than catching fish.

HAL. Let there be a kettle of water with salt ready boiling in an hour, mine host, for the fish we catch or buy; and see that the potatoes are well dressed; the servants will look to the rest of our fare. Now for our rods.

POIET. This is a fine river; clear, full, but not too large: with the two handed rod it may be commanded in most parts.

HAL. It is larger than usual. The strong wind which brought us so quickly

down has raised it; and it is not in such good order for fishing as it was before the wind rose.

- POIET.-I thought the river was always the better for a flood, when clear.

HAL.-Better after a flood from rain; for this brings the fish up, who know when rain is coming, and likewise brings down food and makes the fish feed. But when the water is raised by a strong wind the fish never run, as they are sure to find no increase in the spring heads, which are their objects in running.

POIET. You give the fish credit for great sagacity.

HAL. Call it instinct rather; for if they reasoned, they would run with every large water, whether from wind or rain. What the feeling or power is which makes them travel with rain, I will not pretend to define. But now for our sport.

POIET. The fish are beginning to rise; I have seen two here already, and there is a third, and a fourth-scarcely a quarter of a minute elapses without a fish rising in some parts of the pool.

HAL.-As the day is dark, I shall use a bright and rather a large fly, with jay's hackle, kingfisher's feather under the wing, and golden pheasant's tail, and wing of mixed grouse and argus pheasant's tail. I shall throw over these fish: I ought to raise

one.

POIET.-Either you are not skilful, or the fish know their danger: they will not rise.. HAL.-I will try another and a smaller fly. POIET.-You do nothing.

HAL. I have changed my fly a third time, yet no fish rises. I cannot understand this. The water is not in good order; but I should certainly have raised a fish or two. Now I will wager ten to one that this pool has been fished before to-day.

ORN.-By whom?

HAL.-I know not; but take my wager and we will ascertain.

ORN. -I shall ascertain without the wager if possible. See, a man connected with the fishing advances, let us ask him.-There you see; it has been fished once or twice by one, who claims without charter the right of angling.