Page:Shetland Folk-Lore - Spence - 1899.pdf/245

 in the use of our old words and sea phrases, to record a fisher's yarn over a drop of Hollands at a Lammas foy. The skipper was an oldish man, who had seen many a rough day at sea. His health had been drunk all round, and in reply he gave the following account of an experience at the haf. The narrative is given in his own words, in the dialect, and without any attempt at explaining the phrases he uses.

“Boys, I'm no wirt ta carry noo, bit it's nae winder. Dir mony a saat watter drap gaen ower my head sin' da year '13, whin my midder wis left, an' I rowed in a fram boat my first year wi' aald Maans o' Buddabrake. I wis only saxteen, an' never been farder dan da lempit ebb an' da piltik eela, except a vaege or twa at da seats wi' Saidie o' Widwick.

“Weel, as I wis gaein' ta tell you, upo' aald Beltin Saturday Maans sends me