'Well, Duncan, how about luck now?'
'I think it's a kelt,' the man answered morosely.
But the sinister meaning of this reply was not understood.
'I don't know what you call him,' said Mr. Hodson, holding on with both hands to the long, lithe grilse-rod that was bent almost double. 'Celt or Saxon, I don't know; but I seem to have got a good grip of him.'
'Then he heard Ronald say, in an undertone, to the gillie—
'A kelt? No fears. The first rush was too heavy for that.'
And the gillie responded sullenly—
'He's following the boat like a cow.'
'What is a kelt, anyway?' the American called out. 'Something that swims, I suppose? It ain't a man?'
'I hope it's no a kelt, sir,' said Ronald—but doubtfully.