The piece of wood which he was about to nail on was at first too long; then he sawed it off too short, then chose another equally ill adapted for the purpose.

At length, throwing it down in anger, after wiping his dim eye with his quivering hand, he exclaimed, "There is a curse either on me or on this auld black bitch of a boat, that I have hauled up high and dry, and patched and clouted sae mony years, that she might drown my poor Steenie at the end of them, an' be d--d to her!" and he flung his hammer against the boat, as if she had been the intentional cause of his misfortune.

Then recollecting himself, he added, "Yet what needs ane be angry at her, that has neither soul nor sense ?--though I am no that muckle better mysell.

She's but a rickle o' auld rotten deals nailed thegither, and warped wi' the wind and the sea--and I am a dour carle, battered by foul weather at sea and land till I am maist as senseless as hersell.

She maun be mended though again the morning tide--that's a thing o' necessity." Thus speaking, he went to gather together his instruments, and attempt to resume his labour,--but Oldbuck took him kindly by the arm.