The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25

country. It's queer thing. It doesua
often happen. but I've managed it this
time; and he poked at a goodly sheep
with grunt Of satisfaction. And I see
we're eyeing the dowgs" he continued
airily. Fine animals' Man. are they no.
Just beauties. bath o. them2 Il would
tai lot TO beat the black yiu. and for
Meg-there's no her marrow in the coun-
tryside amaug sheep; she's gieg vim and
mouy story could tel about her. ven
ken that wild bit, ava al the head o. the
waiter. ca'ed the Craig Slap weeI. IL
was az dark winters nicht- And he
rambled into some story. not over credits-
bic to himself
So he ratified on from subject to subject
story 10 story. entirely reckless Of the fact
that the bRili8 paid him not the least at
tention. That minister OF the law albeit
at heart he felt somewhat sppreheusive.
preserved outwsrdiy a digniied and seorn-
ful silence
/ The day was approaching the dsrkeniug
/ and the night-frost was tingling in he
faces Of the two men when at last the
shepherd halted. They Rad come to a place
( where the stream ran IN pools and shall
! lows, and as far the turn In the valley
I there was no one in sight
! Meg cried the shepherd watch thas
F, sheep" and he turned toward the stream.
I "Whaur are We gaun?' asked the baihf
| suspiciously.
To catch saumen Are We ,onin'?" said
1 the shepherd cheerfully. lie peered eau
/ tiously over the edge OF the bank. snd
/ drew back in silence. Hush Here's a
| grand yin Haze We gotten heuks. bailin?
| No? Then III haze to lend ye mine"
| What for?''
To catch that saumon."
"Whae?"
/ You
The bailid laughed scornfully
'Weel. said the shepherd IN no pit
We in there Even a sma' thing frichts
saumon. But that's a fine deep pool
yCnder and I'm thinkin' it's gey caud
moo that the suns doom. VIII ye catch
that saumou2"
No"
Then il Gamma be helpit:" and tucking
he small man under mis- arm, the shep-
herd carried him kicking and wrizgline
to the edge OF the pool. In another mo-
ment the unhappy bailT was standing
waist deep in water.
Moo. he continued, laying his watch
on the grass. IN gle We three minutes
to max up your mind; and II by that
time we're aye obstinate head over heels
ye go into the deep bit
For a minute there was silence between
the two men. broken only by the swish
Of the stream and the tapping Of the wa
ter against the bailins body. then the
No he said. with the air OF one v no
has been bordering a difficult question. 4
Gamma for the life o me max out what in
the world CARED ye venture sac far frae
hame Ance afore-it was lang syne-a
baiiin cam here and what he got was .
Warnin to them that came after him. He
was big man. but what CARED you a
man o your size. daur / Gamma think. Ye
wad dae weel eneuch. I've nae dOOt
amang the shilpit bodies that bide where
you cam frse. But to come here-it's
a perfect insult to the muirs. Just figure
you and muekle Jock Shiel'-and at the
Imaginary picture the shepherd was con-
vulsed with silent laughter
Meanwhile-for he was a conscientious
mana struggle was In progress in the
hsilif's heart For the first minute his re-
solution stood firm by his duty. But
gradually the ice cold Of the water seeped
through his clothes. through his skin into
his very bones. His legs ached and shivers
went through his whole body The cold
crept steadily upward. seeming to expel
all the blood from his legs; as 1t advanced
his resolution began propOrtlonately to
wane, and he TO think that he had better
make the best OF a bad business The
struggle with his conscience was short
He looked al the dark. deep hole where
the stream FLASHED into the pool and
shuddered- The struggle was over
He had stood by his duty long enough
Surely il would be folly to go further.
So when the time had expired. and the
shepherd asked his decision. Il suppose
I'll haze to dae it" he said but III pay
We out yet.
Never fash yourself about that said
the shepherd. Come moo and well haze
a crack wi yOn saumon."
With an III grace the bailin took the
hooks and addressed himself to his unpleas-
ant task AT first he made little attempt
to catch the fish. He had a vague hope
that in time relief would come from some
quarter and he put on the evil moment.
Meanwhile the shepherd tainted him from
behind
En- man, We haze little skill The ssu-
mons playing wi We. Div We no see he's
fair luuchin' az ye2 And. by the way.
bailid about that visit Of ours to the court
- will IL be sune div ye think or viii we
pit it aft indefinitely Personally. I would
recommend she last way-but ony way ye
like.
But tauuts we're Of no avail The baiiif
lid NOT IN the least feel his honor offended.
and his efforts were still languid. At last
the shepherd grew impatient.
See here" he said its nae use de-
layir' we've got 10 catch that saumOu.
and if We dinua be- smart III pit We in the
water again. BY the way he added cas-
ualiy here's Jock ShieI himself comm
II were you. I'd hurry up and catch that
flush dfore Onybody saw me-
The bailIn glanced around and there.
sure enough the six feet Of stalwart shep-
herd came in Ieisurely fashion down the
road. His last hope fed. There was moth
ing 10 be expected from the newcomer,
v HON he knew as a notorious pOacher. Be
sides il was better that there should be no
witness TO his deed So he doggedly re-
,alled his ancient skill and set himself to
,atch the salmon with all speed. With
much art, he gradually drew the FISH up
ward onto he shadows.
Fine. mani" said the shepherd approx
ngiy Il kennel ye were just shdmmin
rs no i'll to see we've been ar the bust
less afOre. Set "a thief TO catch a thief
md max pOacher into a bailin. We Ia
Kill after a.. Great man-great, Just be
.autious. noO-cautious-canny- there
re- haze him.
And Just as jock came UP the glitteriug
pack was landed at his feet.
Man Jock said the shepherd we're
,wer later. We've been hahn grand spor.
NE and he baiin He could gle points 10
even to YOU.
The baiIin turned to Jock. II taxi Won
10 witness that ! haze been forced TO this
Il ken nocht about that. said JOck
smiling "A ] ken is thar ] saw a baili0
andin' & saumOn.'
.'Ay" quoted he shepherd irreverentlv.
he digit pit for ithers and fell Until Q
himself"
The balm slared savagely at The two