"Oh, yes, indeed—he was many a day a gillie," Hector made answer.
"Very well; see what wages he wants; and tell him that when he suspects there's any poaching going on, or any mischief of any kind, you and Hugh will give him a hand in the watching."
"Very well, mem."
And so the tall, bushy-bearded Hector was going away; but Fred Stanley stopped him. The young man's sombre suspicions had not been dissipated by those vague references to mischievous lads.
"Hector," said he, "is Mr. Ross of Heimra a keen fisherman?"
"I could not seh, sir," was Hector's grave and careful answer.
"Does he know the Garra well?"
"I could not seh, sir," Hector repeated.
"You don't happen to have seen or heard anything of him of late?"
"No, sir," said Hector; and then he added, "but I was noticing the yat coming over from Heimra this morning."