34 A DAY ON 



turbing the water overmuch. I flattered myself that good Ch.u 

 Cotton himself could hardly have done it better. The pair of tlu s 

 drew away and were followed by a bold rush, but I brought tin-in 

 lightly back, for he had missed by an infinitesimal fraction of sp.uv. 

 Again I cast, after a brief interval, over the same spot. A 

 yellow bar apparently swirled lazily up from the depths of the 

 dark water beneath the floating flies; there was a sloppy H"\v 

 on the surface, and the yellow streak sank. Next a bright body 

 flashed on the surface for an instant only, to disappear to the tune 

 of a madly singing reel. The fish fought pluckily for liberty, and 

 once he throw himself clear in the air. He seemed to understand 



that the taut line was his deadly enemy, and sprang at it, 

 it with his muscular tail over and over again. 



At last he seemed to come suddenly towards the landing n 

 as if he had thrown up the game. Inch by inch he approa< he 

 the gaping mouth of the bag net, cunningly placed so as to i 

 him without too much challenging his attention. But tl 

 trout had evidently seen the whole process. His former struggl 

 was nothing to this last great effort at escape. Once and agai 

 he reeled out a dozen yards or more, and once and again, turn b 

 turn, I got the line all back. But still the tiny little bit of ber 

 steel kept its hold. At last a long reach out of the arm. and th 

 prize was mine. 



Well recompensed for the long stiff tramp over the bx.uldc 



vfr..\i ti Killa 1 I... _ U:. - t At_ _ 11.1 . 1 



