10 DAYS IN DOVE DALE 



Away across the stream I saw a trout on 

 the look-out ; the water was clear, and he was 

 the first I had really seen on the feed. Now, 

 thought I, for a battle royal. All the arts I 

 have ever been taught and all the native skill 

 I possess shall be brought to bear upon that trout. 

 First, I will throw a yard or two above him and 

 let the bait flow gently down into his mouth, as 

 it were. 



I threw, but somehow my three flies had 

 got mixed up, and instead of reaching him, they 

 fell in a heap far short of him. 



It took me nearly half an hour to disentangle 

 those precious flies the way they have of 

 hooking on to each other, of catching hold of 

 a knot, of doubling up on themselves, and 

 when at last fairly disentangled, of getting 

 hold of your hat, or your arms, or your trou- 

 sers, or your fingers, is something really won- 

 derful ; but using my most powerful glasses, 

 I at last succeeded in fairly straightening 

 them out, and got another throw at my 

 friendly trout, who was still there waiting 

 for me. 



This time I did get above him, and it was 

 really curious to see how he turned up his eye, 



