flow in a deep channel, not much more than a couple of
yards wide. At the head of the run was a ledge where fish were
invariably captured. Towards this spot the old man hurried eagerly.

The two boys lay still in the heather, allowed him to pass, and then
softly followed, bending low, and keeping as much as possible behind
bushes and in hollows, until they were again close upon him. Ensconcing
themselves in a convenient mass of heather, they raised their heads and
saw the fisher stepping carefully from rock to rock, as he approached
the run.

Rounded boulders, large or small, are never safe to walk on, even for
the young and active. MacRummle found it so. His foot slipped, and he
sat down, with undignified haste, in a small pool of water.

Down went the boys' heads, that they might explode their laughter as
softly as possible among the roots of the heather.

"Wass it not funny?" whispered Donald.

"I hope he's not hurt," replied Junkie, raising his head cautiously.

He saw that MacRummle had risen, and, with a rueful expression of face,
was making insane and futile efforts to look at himself behind. A
beaming smile overspread the boy's face as he glanced at his companion,
for he knew well that the old gentleman cared little or nothing for
water. And this was obviously the case, for, after squeezing as much
water out of his nether garments as chose to come, he proceeded to the
head of the runs and resumed fishing.

"I'm beginnin' to see through't," murmured Junkie, after watching for
some time. "See! he has hooked another. Ye see, Tonal', it must be
lettin' the hook drift away down under the ledges that does it. Look!
He's got 'im!"

"I'm thinking ye are right, Junkie. An' the creat thing to know iss
where the ledges lie. He keeps well back from the watter also. There
maun be somethin' in that, what-e-ver. Ye wull be tryin' it yoursel'
the morn, maype."

To this Junkie vouchsafed no reply, for the fisher, having secured his
fish, was proceeding further up stream. When he was sufficiently far in
advance, the boys rose to their feet, and again followed him.

Thus the trio occupied themselves all the forenoon--MacRummle gradually
filling his basket with fine sea-trout, Junkie storing his inquisitive
mind with piscatorial knowledge and "dodges," and Donald enjoying
himself in the mere act of wallowing about in heather and sunshine.

About noon MacRummle suddenly ceased to gaze intently on the wate