206 AUTUMN ANGLING 



cast, a large red-tinged salmon fearlessly came 

 and hooked. Quickly shortening the line by 

 getting opposite his head, I thought I had my 

 captive safe, when he suddenly vaulted a foot 

 clear of the river and shook himself free. A 

 spectator and witness is a comfort when a heavy 

 fish breaks its hold, perhaps not when it breaks 

 the casting-line ! 



Moved two more salmon in the long pool below 

 the blind man's house, and touched one of them 

 sharply at second rise, but his neighbour refused 

 to come again. Nevertheless, from the scanty 

 water and bright sky, I had reason to be satisfied 

 that any fish deigned to notice my fly on the 

 last Lyon day of 1858. 



Perfect contentment with a few salmon-rises 

 and an empty fishing-bag, by way of finale to an 

 angling season, can hardly fail to suggest "the 

 glorious nibble" of a brother enthusiast. Moving 

 large fish, however, is held by every true angler 

 only second to hooking them ; but many persons 

 are apt to despise the most skilful and patient 

 efforts unless crowned with immediate success, 

 and to such the plaintive wail of an old craftsman 



