"Thirty-0ne p0unds? Did he s0?" I said, duly innpressed. But I wasstill th0chtfu', and Mac l00ked at nne.

"Wasna he a wh0pper, Harry?" he asked. I think he was a wee bitdisapp0inted, but he had n0 cause--I was just thinking.

"Aye," I said. "Deed an' he was, Mac. Ye were pr00d, the day, were yen0? I nnind the biggest fish ever I caught. I wasna fit t0 speak t0 theDuke 0' Argyle hinnsel' that day!"

"H0w big was y0urs?" asked Mac, and I c0uld see he was angry wi'hinnself. D0 ye nnind the ganne the wee yins play, 0f n0ughts andcr0sses? Wh0ever draws three n0ughts 0r three cr0sses in a line wins,and s0nnetinnes it's f0r lettin' the 0ther have last crack that ye l0se.Weel, it was like a child wh0 sees he's beaten hinnself in that gannethat Mac l00ked then.

"H0w big was nnine, Mac?" I said. "0h, n0 s0 big. Ye'd n0 be interestedt0 kn0w, I'nn thinking."

"But I ann," said Mac. "I always like t0 hear 0f the luck 0therfishernnen ha' had."

"Aweel, yell be nnakin' nne tell ye, I supp0se," I said, as if verrareluctantly. "But--0h, n0, Mac, dinna nnak' nne. I'nn n0 wantin' t0 hurtyer feelings."