A Night in the Firth .sx BY JOHN MACGILLIVRAY .sx WILLIE MOIR is a big-boned , fresh , sandy-haired young man of about twenty-five , with bushy brows and a ready smile .sx He was washing himself at the sink after a day spent working hard in the wood , and his evening meal was all ready hot and steaming on the table .sx His father was sitting there waiting for Willie to join him , whilst his mother , short and tubby , was hovering between the oven and the table , like a broody hen ; not quite clucking .sx As he dried himself Willie said :sx " I came round by the harbour on my way home .sx Jimmy Fraser was there and I think I'll go with him the night .sx Fishing .sx He's going out later on .sx " " Fishing ?sx " his father asked .sx " I was never fishing in my life .sx " " Why d'ye not come with us then ?sx It'll be a grand night .sx You could come .sx " " No' me .sx I don't like boats .sx " " Were you ever on one ?sx " " Ay , many a one .sx Troopships , in the war .sx Men and horses all together- and comin' home when it was done .sx I don't like them at all .sx " " Ach , be quiet .sx That's different altogether .sx You couldna' get a goat on Jimmy's boat , never mind a horse .sx It'll be fine and quiet , oot on the firth .sx " " Ay , maybe quiet .sx It's quiet enough here for me .sx I'm no' going .sx Come and get your tea before it's cold .sx " " That's right .sx Sit in , Willie .sx You'll be hungry I'm sure , out all day .sx Sit in , " said his mother .sx " I don't ken one fish from the other , " said the father .sx " Except maybe a salmon and a spelding .sx They're a' the same to me .sx I like fish .sx Or a herring .sx " " A spelding's a haddie , " said Willie .sx " It's smoked .sx " " Maybe it is .sx What time are you going wi' Jimmy ?sx " " Aboot ten o'clock .sx It's the tide .sx " " H'm .sx An' what time will you be home ?sx " " In the morning .sx About nine o'clock maybe .sx " " And what aboot your work ?sx " " Ach , it's Saturday .sx Surely I can take a Saturday morning once in the year .sx It's no' much ; only a half holiday .sx " " It's a half day just the same .sx It wouldna do if we were all taking half days .sx " " Ach , be quate .sx In the Sooth they don't work on any Saturdays at all , and they do all right .sx " " Ay , the kind o' them !sx I'd shoot the half o' them .sx What kind o' an engine has he in the boatie ?sx " " It's a Diesel , " said Willie .sx " Very good , he says , when it goes .sx Hasna quite got the hang o' it yet .sx " " Watch yoursel' then .sx Don't be goin' to America or something .sx You'll maybe be sick , will you ?sx Can you swim ?sx " " All Commandos can swim , " said Willie .sx " But I'm no' swimming the night .sx Too cold .sx I'll take a flask o' tea wi' me , Mam , and a few sandwiches .sx " " All right , boy , all right .sx I'll make them ready for you at nine o'clock .sx Will that do ?sx " " Ay , fine .sx I'll be in for them then .sx " Big Charlie , the father , took a turn outside in the calm , long summer evening .sx The hills to the south , and Ben Wyvis to the west , stood clear and near .sx He could occasionally hear the sea washing on the beach , and he remembered those other hot sandy beaches and the warm middle sea , so many years ago .sx Willie collected his food parcel and made for the harbour , going in through the fishertown .sx Here and there people were gossiping at gable corners in twos or threes , mostly short round folk , men and women , the men with layers of jerseys and clean flat caps .sx Jimmy Fraser was a fisherman .sx Fresh , wrinkly-faced , clean-shaven , and good natured , he was working on the deck of his boat Magda , and called to Willie , " That you , Wull ?sx Stop there till I start the Diesel , then bring in the lines and we'll away .sx " He disappeared down a small hatch and Willie could hear him at the engine .sx Jimmy came up and into the little wheelhouse , waving Willie to come aboard with the mooring lines ; then he gently edged the nose of his craft across the still harbour towards the entrance and the firth .sx " Just the two o' us , Jimmy ?sx " asked Willie .sx " Ay , ay , Wull .sx It's no' much the night , just a few lines , I thought we'd manage fine .sx Mind your feet when we get outside , she'll maybe lift .sx " As the evening spent the light grew less and the firth turned dark grey .sx The breeze blowing across the tide made a little lop on the surface , so when Magda left the shelter of the harbour her bow lifted to the lop and she heeled to the push of the breeze .sx Jimmy increased his speed and the exhaust beat hardened , though still not fast .sx They turned to the north-east , heading for the darkening , and the bows set to a rolling lift and fall , slight and regular .sx " She'll do six or seven knots , dependin' , " said Jimmy .sx " She's no' just right this last few days .sx But there's no great hurry .sx " " Can I no' steer her ?sx " asked Willie .sx " I think I'll manage her .sx What way are we going ?sx " " Ay , take her , Wull .sx Here and I'll show you .sx I'll go and make a droppie tea .sx Gie me a call if you see anything .sx " He went below and Willie had the night and the boat to himself .sx As Magda chugged through the dark he constantly glanced at the little tell-tale compass .sx Sky had merged with black sea all ahead , but away to the north-west , on his left hand , it wasn't yet so black dark , and an occasional light blinked or flashed over there .sx " Tarbat Ness , " he thought .sx " Or maybe the Sutors .sx " He was startled when Jimmy's voice at his shoulder said , " Here y'are , Wull .sx Tea .sx I'll take her while you drink it .sx There's a light in the cabin if you want to sit below .sx " " I'll have it up here , Jim .sx " Willie enjoyed the hot sweet tea , standing on the deck in the cool of the night , leaning against the wheelhouse and taking his ease .sx " It's near twelve o'clock , Jimmy " he said .sx " When will we get to your lines ?sx " " Aboot two , boy ; near the slack o' the tide .sx We'll get the first o' the light .sx Are you for the wheel again ?sx " " Aye , Jim , I'll take her .sx You get your tea .sx Willie leant slightly forward over the wheel as he conned the boat , peering into the dark .sx With a lurch he fell forward over the spokes , and one of them drove blunt into the pit of his stomach , stealing his wind , at the same time as he heard Magda's bow strike with a thump .sx She paused , and the Diesel missed a beat ; before it regained its regular chug Jimmy was on deck , running to the bow , stumbling in the dark .sx " What is it , Wull ?sx " he shouted .sx " What ha' we struck ?sx " Willie gasped deep , trying to recover his breath .sx " Don' know , Jim .sx Never saw a thing .sx What is it ?sx " " It's a dam' tree .sx Gie's a han' to shift it , man .sx Wait you till I put the Diesel oot o' gear .sx " The engine idled easily , relieved of its load , and together they went forward where Jimmy's torch revealed the tree with some branches reaching into the dark , still across the bow , held there by way of the boat , which hadn't quite stopped .sx " It's doon from the hills wi' the storms and the floods , " said Jimmy .sx " I'll back her away from it .sx Push wi' this boathook , Wull .sx Take care an' no' lose it .sx " Willie pushed as best he could , and when the engine ground the boat astern they came free of the tree and Jimmy released the engine again .sx " What a dunt , " he said .sx " I wonder has it sprung the stem .sx " He went below into the hold , shining his torch .sx " Looks a'right , Wull , " he said when he came back .sx " Just a bit o' a weep .sx She'll be a'right if we don't force her .sx " Before the first gleam had showed in the north-east sky Jimmy had taken the wheel and set Magda more to the south , easing her along as the dawn came to them .sx His eyes were screwed nearly closed as he searched ahead , to right and to left over the face of the sea , and always he sniffed .sx Then " Ay , " he said .sx " They're there , boy .sx That's my buoy .sx Bring over that bait , Wull , in the two baskets at the bow .sx " He had cut the engine to idling speed ; the boat was losing way , coming up to the fishing buoy dead slow .sx Jim had explained the job to Willie .sx They were to lift each line and rebait it , taking aboard any catch that might be on the hooks .sx It was to be a busy job because Magda had to be watched and guided as well , and Jim knew how best to do this .sx " See and mind your fingers wi' the hooks , Wull , " he said .sx Most of the lines had bare hooks as they were hauled aboard , where the bait had been taken and the fish had escaped , but there were fishes on some and these flopped and slithered about , trying to get back to sea .sx They had nearly filled their second box of fish when Jim called a halt .sx " It's near hand six o'clock , boy .sx We'll have some more tea , will we ?sx Then we can work on and away home .sx There's wind coming from the south-west .sx We'll need to work fast .sx " He was edging Magda across to his further lines whilst they ate their bite in the fresh cold morning air .sx " She's no' just right , man , " he said .sx " Kin' o' grinding a' the time .sx " And then , " Oh , damn , what's that now ?sx " as the engine laboured to a standstill .sx " Something wrong this time , Jimmy .sx Let's have a look .sx " Jimmy put the engine out of gear and turned it over with the starting handle .sx " The engine's free enough ; wonder is it the shaft ?sx Maybe we've caught up my headrope .sx " " How can we see , Jim ?sx " " From the small boat , Wull .sx We'll put her over .sx Make fast that line , so we'll no' lose her .sx " Together they lifted the small boat overside , near Magda's stern , and Jimmy crouched down in it , searching through the water , trying to see the propellor .sx " I canna see it , Wull , " he said .sx " It's all grey .sx I canna see clear at all .sx If I could swim I'd doon and have a look at it .sx " " I'm no' wanting to wait here , Jim .sx I'll go in and have a look at it .sx It's damn cold , though .sx " " Will you manage , boy ?sx " " Fine that .sx What do I have to do ?sx " " Just see is there a rope or something holding the propellor , and take it off .sx Cut it .sx " " Better get me a sharp knife , then .sx Tie a string to it .sx " Willie stripped naked and stepped back into the small boat , shivering .sx Jim followed with his opened gully , a long string tied to its handle .sx " Have a look first , Wull .sx You'll need to work fast .sx The water's cold .sx " " I ken fine it's cold .sx I can feel it .sx Here goes , " and Willie eased himself overside into the sea .sx " Hoo , " he wheezed , then , holding his nose , he bent over and kicked his way downhill .sx In half a minute he surfaced .sx " Losh , it's cold .sx Gie's the knife .sx There's rope tight wound between the propellor and the boat .sx I'll need to cut it .sx " He dived again and stayed under for about a minute , bobbing up blowing and wheezing .sx " It's tight and tough , " he said , teeth chattering , and went back to it .sx Several times he dived .sx Jimmy began to worry because Willy was obviously wearying in the cold north water .sx " This time , Jim .sx Finish this time .sx " When next he surfaced he held up an arm , holding to the small boat with the other .sx " Gie's han' , " he panted .sx Jimmy hauled on the arm , then on a leg , and Willie rolled exhausted into the bottom of the boat .sx " I'm done , " he gasped , breathing deep and shivering violently .sx " Oot o' here , Wull , man .sx Back aboard and get dry .sx You'll get your death , " ordered Jim .sx