urbance.

"So do I," said his father; "but fishing is the thing for me. There's
nothing like fishing. You have fine trout in the lake, I believe?"

"Ay, an' salmon too," answered McAllister.

"So I've heard, so I've heard," said Mr Sudberry, with a glow of
excitement and pleasure on his round visage. "We must get our rods and
tackle unpacked at once, George. You are a great fisher, no doubt, Mr
McAllister?"

"Well, not just that, but I do manage to fill a basket now and then, an'
whiles to land a g'ilse."

"A gilse!" cried George in surprise, "what is that?"

"It is a small salmon--"

"Oh! you mean a grilse," interposed Mr Sudberry.

"Yes, I mean that, an' I said that," returned McAllister, slowly and
with emphasis. "Scienteefic men are not agreed whether the g'ilse is a
small salmon or not; I'm of opeenion that it is. But whether or not,
it's a famous fish on the table, and lively enough on the line to
delight the heart of every true disciple of Isaac Walton."

"What, you have read that charming book?" exclaimed Mr Sudberry,
looking at the rugged Highlander in some surprise.

"Yes," replied the other, in the grave quiet manner that was peculiar to
him; "I took to it one winter as a sort o' recreation, after readin'
through `Paley's Evidences.'"

"What!" cried Mr Sudberry, "whose Evidences did you say?"

"Paley's; ye've heard o' him, dootless."

"Why, yes," replied Mr Sudberry, "I have heard of him, but I--I must
confess that I have not read him."

At this point, Jacky's eye fell on a shaggy little cow which had strayed
near to the party, and stood regarding him with a stern inquisitive
glance. Remembering the fright he had received so recently from a
similar creature, he uttered a tremendous roar, and again sought refuge
in his father's knees. The discussion on Paley was thus cut short; for
the dogs--whose chief delight was to bark, though _not_ to bite, as has
been libellously asserted of all dogs by Dr Watts--sprang to their
feet, divided their forces, and, while two of the oldest kept frisking
round and leaping upon the party in a promiscuous manner, as if to
assure them of protection in the event of danger, the remainder ran
open-mouthed and howling at the cow. That curly-headed, long-horned
creature received them at first with a defiant look and an elevated
tail, but ultimately took to her heels, to the immense delight of Jacky,
whose soul was imbued with a deep and altogether unutterable