un to the extent of the line, and,
without being told, cast again, and looked at Tavish as if to silently
ask if that was right.

To his surprise, the forester was dancing about frantically upon the
shore, while Kenneth and Scoodrach seemed to be roaring with laughter.

"Have I done anything very stupid?" said Max to himself.

"Ye winna catch a fush like that," cried Tavish; and the next moment Max
looked at him in horror, for he came with a rush across the stones, and
in the most reckless manner, as if at any moment he must fall headlong
into the water.

Nothing of the kind. Tavish was a giant in size, but as sure-footed as
a goat, and in very few seconds he was alongside Max, bending down to
take his keen knife out of his stocking, and looking fiercely at the
fisher.

"What have I done?" Max's lips parted to say, but they did not utter
the words, for Tavish had seized him by the jacket, and for the moment
ideas of attacks by savage Highlanders made upon peaceful Southrons
flashed into the lad's brain and faded away.

"She'll never catch a fush like that," cried Tavish.

"But I did try," said Max in remonstrance.

"She says she did try," cried Tavish scornfully. "Turn roond, she's got
ta flee in her pack."

"A flee? Back? Oh, I see!" cried Max, yielding to the pressure of the
Highlander's hand, and turning half round.

"Mind. Does she want to co into the watter?"

But for the strong grasp upon his arm, Max would have stepped off the
rock and gone headlong, but he hastily found a place for his erring
foot, and stood still while a slight slit was made in the back of his
tweed jacket, and the salmon fly which had hooked in there was cut
loose.

"Why didn't you leave it, Tav?" Kenneth shouted, with his hands to his
mouth.

"There, now, she'll co pack. Cast again, laddie. She'll soon find ta
way."

Tavish trotted back, and Max stood for a few moments, with his brow
wrinkled up, watching the forester till he was back ashore.

"Look, laddie, she's rising," he shouted. "Noo cast yonder ahint that
stane."

Max had not noticed the rise, but he grasped now the spot where the fish
was supposed to be, and made a dash with his rod, sending the line
first, the fly after it, and the top of the rod into the stream with a
splash.

"Acain! cast acain!" cried Tavish; and Max threw and threw his fly,
never going two-thirds of the way toward the pool, where a salmon was
patiently waiting for such good thing