Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-08-14
CHAPTER NXIII.
A LAST DAY on THE LoCH.

Ronald came down on the lochside the
next morning just as she was about to get
into the coble, her father having started
few minutes before.
81 hear you have not been doing very
well with the fishing" said he, in that
brisk, business-like fashion of his.
Inc salmon appear to have gone away
somewhere. she said.
oh, but that will never do" said he,
cheerfully. I've must try and make
some alteration"
He took the key of the kennels from
Here, Johnnie lad, ,ye may 60 and take
the dogs out for a run
Her eyes frightened with anticipation
there was a welcome in the look of her
face that ought to have been sufficient re-
ward for him. Nor had she the courage
to protest. though she knew that his time
was drawing short now. AS for the sal
mon, well, it was not about salmon she
was thinking exclusively.
They say change of gillie sometimes
brings a change of luck" said he, good
naturally: and he began to overhaul the
tackle substituting smaller minnows for
those already on. And | think we will
try down at the other end of the loch this
time We will make sure of some trout
in any case"
certain that you can afford the time :" She
was bound, in common fairness, to
say.
'Oh yes, ] can afford the time, said he,
'even if this should have to be my last
day on the loCh Besides, if we do not
treat you well, maybe you'll never come
back"
And what is the use of orr coming
back, when You won't be here ~ she was
on the point of saying-but she did not say
it, fortunately.
Then they set forth, on this still summer
like day and they hailed the other boat
in passing, and told them of their intended
voyage of exploration. Indeed, their
prospects of sport at the setting out were
anything but promising the long levels of
the lake were mostly of pale CLASSY blue
and white; and the little puffs of wind
that stirred the surface here and there in
to simmer of silver invariably died
down again, leaving the water to become
mirror once more of rock and tree and
hill. But she was well content. This was
an unknown world into which they were
pow penetrating, and it was a good deal
MORE beautiful than the upper end of the
lake (where the best fishing ground was,
with which they had grown so familiar.
Here were hanging woods coming right
down TO the waters edge; and lofty
ana preclpltous crags stretching away into
the pale blue sky and winding bays and
picturesque shores where the huge bould-
ers, green and white and yellow with
lichen, and the rich velvet moss, and the
NNHcIe.i blcChdn, anu the SllNer-clear
stems of the birch-trees, We're all brilliant
in the sun, The only living creatures that
seemed TO inhabit this strange, silent
region were the birds, a pair of eagles
circled round and round, but at so great
height that they were but a couple of
specks which the eye was apt to lose
black throated divers and goden-eyed
divers, disturbed by these unusual visitors,
rose from the water and went
whirring by to the upper stretches
of the lake; hen-harrier lowered
in mid-air. causing a frantic commo-
ton among the smaller birds be-
meath The curlews, now wheeling about
in pairs, uttered their long, warning
whistle; the peewits called angrly, fly
ing zigzag, with audible whufing of their
soft broad wings; the brilliant little red
shanks flew like flash along the shore,
Just skimming the water and two great
wild-geese went by overhead, with loud,
keen eye that first caught sight of them
and he would draw her attention 70 them,
and tell her the names of them all And
AT last-as they were coming out of one OF
the small CLASSY bays, and as he was ldly
regarding the tall and rocky crhgs mat
rose above the birch woodS-he laughed
slightly.
Ye glaiket things" said he, as If he
We're recognizing some old friends, what
brings yc in among the sheep -
"What is IL, Ronald :" she asked-and
she followed the direction of his look to-
ward those lofty crags, but could make
out nothing unusual
"Dinna ye see the kinds 2" he said,
quietly.