Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-05-15

mand OF the expedition, having sent the one
gillie who had arrived down to bail the boat.
And then he would overhaul Mr.. Hodsons
fishing gear-eXamining the rods, testing
the lines and traces, and rejecting all the
spoon bats. angels, sand -eels, and what
not that had been supplied by the London
tackle maker, for two or three of the
familiar phantom minnows. Mr. Hodson
could scarcely believe that this was the
same man who last night had been dis
cussing the disestabl,hment of state
churches and the policy of protecting
native industries. He had not a word for
anything but the business before him
aud the bold fashion in which he handled
those minnows, all bristling with hooks,
or drew the catgut traces through his
fingers tMr Hod,on shivered, and seemed
to feel his own fingers being cut to the
bone). showed that he was as familiar
with the loch as with the hillside or the
kennel
self" the American remarked, modcstly.
Guess you'll have to boss this cam
paign.'
s rather early in the season, sir, I'm
afraid" was the answer. But we might
get a fish after all and if we do, it'll be
the first caught in Scotland this year, |
warrant
They set out and walked down to the
shore of the loch; and there Mr.. llodson
seated himself on the guuwae of the fiat
bottOmed CODle, and watched the two men
putting the rods together and fixing the
traces. The day had now declared itself;
wild and stormy in appearance. but fair
on the whole, great floods of sunshine fall
ing suddenly on the yellow slopes and the
russell birch woods. and shadows coming
as rapidly across the far heights of Gle
brig, sleeping the mountains in gloom.
AS for the gillie who had been proof
against the seductions of keeping the New
Year, and who was now down on one knee
biting catgut with his teeth, he was a
man as tall and as sallow as Mr., Hodson
himself. but with an added expression of
intense melancholy and hopeessness Or
was that but temporary -
Duncan doesna like that boat" Ron
aid said. CHANGING at Mr.. Hodson
The melancholy man did not speak, but
shook his head gloomily.
"Why,"
AS the gillie did not answer, Ronald
said, He thinks there is no luck with
that boat"
That boat ?" the gille said. with an
angry look toward the hapiess coble.
" She has the worst luck of any boat in
Sutherland-tdm her" he added, under
his breath.
"In my country" the American said, in
his slow way, Eve don't mind luck
much we find perseverance about as good
horse to win with in the end"
He was soon to have his perseverance
tried Everything being ready they push
ed off from the shore, Ronald taking
stroke oar, the gllie at the bow {. Mr.. Hold
son left to pay out the lines of the two
rods and fix these in the stern when about
live-and-thirty yards had gone forth. At
first, it Is true, he waited and watched
with tritle of anxiety. He wanted to
catch a salmon it would be something to
write about to his daughter; it would be a
new experience for himself. But when
time passed, and the boat was slowly row.
ed along the loch at measured distance
from the shore, without any touch of any
thing coming to make the point of either
rod tremble, he rather gave up his hope in
that direction, and took to talking with
Ronald. After all, it was not salmon
fishing alone that had brought him into
these wilds.
81 suppose 1t is really too early in the
season." he observed, without much
chagrin.
"Rayther," said Ronald.
Rawther," said the melancholy gill
But at that instant something happened
that startled every one of them out of his
apathy. The top of one of the rods was
violently pulled at, and then there was II
long, shrill yell of the reel
There he is, sir there he is, sir ~ Ron
aid called.
Mr. Hodson made grab blindly-for he
had been looking at the scenery around
But before he knew where he was Ronald
had got hold of the other, and raised the
top so rs TO keep strain on the fish. The
exchange Of the rods was effected in u
moment. Then when Ronald hal wound
in the other line and put the rod at the
bow, he took to his oar again. leaving Mr.
Hod,on to fight his unknown enemy as
best he might but giving him few words
of direction from time to time, quietly, as
if it were all a matter of course.
Reel in, sir, reel in; keep an even strain
on him; let him go if he wants"
Well, the fish was not a fierce fighter !;
after the first long dash he scarcely did any
thing; he kept boring downward, with a
dull, heavy weight. 1t seemed easy work !;
and Mr.. flodson- triumphant in the hope
of catching his first salmon-was tempted
to call aloud to the melancholy gillie;
"Well, Duncan, how about luck now ?"
81 think it's kelt, the man answered
morosely.
But the sinister meaning Of this reply
was not understood.
Il don't know what you call him. said
| Mr.. Hodson, holding on with both hands
to the long, 1.-THE grilserod that was
almost bent double. "Celt or Saxon,
don't know but | seem to have "a good
grip of him."
Then he heard Ronald say, in an under
| tone, to the gillie:
A kelt No fears. The first rush was
too heavy for that"
And the gille responded, sullenly,
He's following the boat like cow"
"What is kelt, anyway ?" the Ameri-
can called out Something that swims,
! suppose 1t amt man 2"
81 hope it's no kelt, sir, said Ronald
but doubtfully.
" But what is a kelt, then, when he's at
home ?"
A salmon, sir, that hasna been down
to the sea: we'll have to put him back If
| he is"
Whirr went the reel again the fish
keit or clean salmon, had struck deep
down.
That's no kelt," Ronald said instantly
" or else he's as big as a shark"
But the melancholy creature at the bow
was taking no further interest in the fight
He was sure it was ket. Most likely
the minnow would be destroyed, Maybe
he would break the trace. But kelt II
was He knew the luck of this TANNED u
| boat
The struggle was tedious one. The
beast kept boring down with the mere
force of its weight, but following the coble
steadily; and even Ronald, who had been
combating his own doubts, at length gave