6 DAYS IN DOVE DALE 



away splendidly, and got over half a mile 

 of water in ten minutes, but not a rise could I 

 get, not a fish could I see. 



By this time I thought it as well just to 

 examine my flies to see if I had kept them 

 dry or not. To my surprise, when I drew the 

 line up pretty close to my eyes, which are by 

 no means what they were, not a fly was there to 

 be seen. I suppose I must have swung them 

 all off! 



I resolved to be more circumspect in future, 

 and after half an hour, in the still pouring 

 rain, spent in adjusting a new and splendid 

 cast of flies, I threw again ; but unluckily I had 

 not considered the spreading branches of an 

 oak behind me my leader was firmly fixed in a 

 lofty bough. There was nothing for it but to 

 tug away, and chance it. 



I had found, by previous experience, that 

 sometimes the boughs gave way sometimes 

 the flies. Alas ! in this case my new cast 

 was left floating to the breeze on the top of 

 the oak, and I had to set to work once more, 

 under the oak's friendly shelter, to construct 

 a new cast. This feat being accomplished in 

 course of time, again I commenced business. 



