a night in the firth . by John MacGillivray . Willie Moir is a big-boned , fresh , sandy-haired young man of about twenty-five , with bushy brows and a ready smile . 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 . 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 . as he dried himself Willie said : I came round by the harbour on my way home . Jimmy Fraser was there and I think I &apos;ll go with him the night . fishing . he &apos;s going out later on . fishing ? his father asked . I was never fishing in my life . why d&apos; ye not come with us then ? it &apos;ll be a grand night . you could come . no&apos; me . I do n&apos;t like boats . were you ever on one ? ay , many a one . troopships , in the war . men and horses all together - and comin&apos; home when it was done . I do n&apos;t like them at all . ach , be quiet . that &apos;s different altogether . you could na&apos; get a goat on Jimmy &apos;s boat , never mind a horse . it &apos;ll be fine and quiet , oot on the firth . ay , maybe quiet . it &apos;s quiet enough here for me . I &apos;m no&apos; going . come and get your tea before it &apos;s cold . that &apos;s right . sit in , Willie . you &apos;ll be hungry I &apos;m sure , out all day . sit in , said his mother . I do n&apos;t ken one fish from the other , said the father . except maybe a salmon and a spelding . they &apos;re a&apos; the same to me . I like fish . or a herring . a spelding &apos;s a haddie , said Willie . it &apos;s smoked . maybe it is . what time are you going wi&apos; Jimmy ? aboot ten o&apos;clock . it &apos;s the tide . h&apos;m . an&apos; what time will you be home ? in the morning . about nine o&apos;clock maybe . and what aboot your work ? ach , it &apos;s Saturday . surely I can take a Saturday morning once in the year . it &apos;s no&apos; much ; only a half holiday . it &apos;s a half day just the same . it would na do if we were all taking half days . ach , be quate . in the Sooth they do n&apos;t work on any Saturdays at all , and they do all right . ay , the kind o&apos; them ! I &apos;d shoot the half o&apos; them . what kind o&apos; an engine has he in the boatie ? it &apos;s a diesel , said Willie . very good , he says , when it goes . has na quite got the hang o&apos; it yet . watch yoursel&apos; then . do n&apos;t be goin&apos; to America or something . you &apos;ll maybe be sick , will you ? can you swim ? all commandos can swim , said Willie . but I &apos;m no&apos; swimming the night . too cold . I &apos;ll take a flask o&apos; tea wi&apos; me , Mam , and a few sandwiches . all right , boy , all right . I &apos;ll make them ready for you at nine o&apos;clock . will that do ? ay , fine . I &apos;ll be in for them then . big Charlie , the father , took a turn outside in the calm , long summer evening . the hills to the south , and Ben Wyvis to the west , stood clear and near . 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 . Willie collected his food parcel and made for the harbour , going in through the fishertown . 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 . Jimmy Fraser was a fisherman . 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 ? stop there till I start the diesel , then bring in the lines and we &apos;ll away . he disappeared down a small hatch and Willie could hear him at the engine . 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 . just the two o&apos; us , Jimmy ? asked Willie . ay , ay , Wull . it &apos;s no&apos; much the night , just a few lines , I thought we &apos;d manage fine . mind your feet when we get outside , she &apos;ll maybe lift . as the evening spent the light grew less and the firth turned dark grey . 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 . Jimmy increased his speed and the exhaust beat hardened , though still not fast . they turned to the north-east , heading for the darkening , and the bows set to a rolling lift and fall , slight and regular . she &apos;ll do six or seven knots , dependin&apos; , said Jimmy . she &apos;s no&apos; just right this last few days . but there &apos;s no great hurry . can I no&apos; steer her ? asked Willie . I think I &apos;ll manage her . what way are we going ? ay , take her , Wull . here and I &apos;ll show you . I &apos;ll go and make a droppie tea . gie me a call if you see anything . he went below and Willie had the night and the boat to himself . as Magda chugged through the dark he constantly glanced at the little tell-tale compass . sky had merged with black sea all ahead , but away to the north-west , on his left hand , it was n&apos;t yet so black dark , and an occasional light blinked or flashed over there . Tarbat Ness , he thought . or maybe the Sutors . he was startled when Jimmy &apos;s voice at his shoulder said , here y&apos; are , Wull . tea . I &apos;ll take her while you drink it . there &apos;s a light in the cabin if you want to sit below . I &apos;ll have it up here , Jim . Willie enjoyed the hot sweet tea , standing on the deck in the cool of the night , leaning against the wheelhouse and taking his ease . it &apos;s near twelve o&apos;clock , Jimmy he said . when will we get to your lines ? aboot two , boy ; near the slack o&apos; the tide . we &apos;ll get the first o&apos; the light . are you for the wheel again ? aye , Jim , I &apos;ll take her . you get your tea . Willie leant slightly forward over the wheel as he conned the boat , peering into the dark . 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 &apos;s bow strike with a thump . 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 . what is it , Wull ? he shouted . what ha&apos; we struck ? Willie gasped deep , trying to recover his breath . do n&apos; know , Jim . never saw a thing . what is it ? it &apos;s a dam&apos; tree . gie &apos;s a han&apos; to shift it , man . wait you till I put the diesel oot o&apos; gear . the engine idled easily , relieved of its load , and together they went forward where Jimmy &apos;s torch revealed the tree with some branches reaching into the dark , still across the bow , held there by way of the boat , which had n&apos;t quite stopped . it &apos;s doon from the hills wi&apos; the storms and the floods , said Jimmy . I &apos;ll back her away from it . push wi&apos; this boathook , Wull . take care an&apos; no&apos; lose it . 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 . what a dunt , he said . I wonder has it sprung the stem . he went below into the hold , shining his torch . looks a&apos;right , Wull , he said when he came back . just a bit o&apos; a weep . she &apos;ll be a&apos;right if we do n&apos;t force her . 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 . 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 . then ay , he said . they &apos;re there , boy . that &apos;s my buoy . bring over that bait , Wull , in the two baskets at the bow . he had cut the engine to idling speed ; the boat was losing way , coming up to the fishing buoy dead slow . Jim had explained the job to Willie . they were to lift each line and rebait it , taking aboard any catch that might be on the hooks . 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 . see and mind your fingers wi&apos; the hooks , Wull , he said . 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 . they had nearly filled their second box of fish when Jim called a halt . it &apos;s near hand six o&apos;clock , boy . we &apos;ll have some more tea , will we ? then we can work on and away home . there &apos;s wind coming from the south-west . we &apos;ll need to work fast . he was edging Magda across to his further lines whilst they ate their bite in the fresh cold morning air . she &apos;s no&apos; just right , man , he said . kin&apos; o&apos; grinding a&apos; the time . and then , oh , damn , what &apos;s that now ? as the engine laboured to a standstill . something wrong this time , Jimmy . let &apos;s have a look . Jimmy put the engine out of gear and turned it over with the starting handle . the engine &apos;s free enough ; wonder is it the shaft ? maybe we &apos;ve caught up my headrope . how can we see , Jim ? from the small boat , Wull . we &apos;ll put her over . make fast that line , so we &apos;ll no&apos; lose her . together they lifted the small boat overside , near Magda &apos;s stern , and Jimmy crouched down in it , searching through the water , trying to see the propellor . I can na see it , Wull , he said . it &apos;s all grey . I can na see clear at all . if I could swim I &apos;d doon and have a look at it . I &apos;m no&apos; wanting to wait here , Jim . I &apos;ll go in and have a look at it . it &apos;s damn cold , though . will you manage , boy ? fine that . what do I have to do ? just see is there a rope or something holding the propellor , and take it off . cut it . better get me a sharp knife , then . tie a string to it . Willie stripped naked and stepped back into the small boat , shivering . Jim followed with his opened gully , a long string tied to its handle . have a look first , Wull . you &apos;ll need to work fast . the water &apos;s cold . I ken fine it &apos;s cold . I can feel it . here goes , and Willie eased himself overside into the sea . hoo , he wheezed , then , holding his nose , he bent over and kicked his way downhill . in half a minute he surfaced . losh , it &apos;s cold . gie &apos;s the knife . there &apos;s rope tight wound between the propellor and the boat . I &apos;ll need to cut it . he dived again and stayed under for about a minute , bobbing up blowing and wheezing . it &apos;s tight and tough , he said , teeth chattering , and went back to it . several times he dived . Jimmy began to worry because Willy was obviously wearying in the cold north water . this time , Jim . finish this time . when next he surfaced he held up an arm , holding to the small boat with the other . gie &apos;s han&apos; , he panted . Jimmy hauled on the arm , then on a leg , and Willie rolled exhausted into the bottom of the boat . I &apos;m done , he gasped , breathing deep and shivering violently . oot o&apos; here , Wull , man . back aboard and get dry . you &apos;ll get your death , ordered Jim . 