“Oh yes, I promise to sit quiet,” answered Norman, “and you may be sure I will not get into mischief.”
Fanny though she liked going on the water, would much rather have paid a visit to old Alec, but she was always ready to give up her wishes to please others, and as Norman seemed so eager to take a row in the boat, she agreed to accompany him.
Sandy undertook to dig for some worms for bait, and to cut a rod. When he brought it back, Mr Maclean fastened a line with a float and a hook to it.
“There, young gentleman, you are fitted out as an angler,” he observed, as he gave it him. “Would you like a very large basket to bring back your fish in, or will a small one do?”
“I think I had better take a large one,” answered Norman. “Fanny can carry it down to the boat, and Sandy and I will bring it back slung on a thick stick when it’s full of fish.”
The laird laughed heartily. “You must not blame your fishing-rod if you are not successful, for you will catch quite as many with it, as you would were I to lend you one of mine,” he observed. “Now good-bye, and remember your promise to behave properly, and Sandy will do his part in looking after you.”
Fanny came down ready to set off.
While she walked on by the side of the old man, Norman frequently started ahead, flourishing his fishing-rod in the way he had seen Mr Maclean flourish his, and eager to begin drawing in the fish he expected to catch.
They soon reached the boat.
“Now, Miss Fanny, do you sit in the stern, and Master Norman, you keep by me in the middle of the boat, and take care that you do not hook your sister when you are whisking about your rod. We will gang to the end of the loch first, where I promised to take you, and then you can begin to fish on the way back.”