CLEAR WATERS 



down the rocky flumes, while the low state of the 

 water was less noticeable among these rugged channels. 

 And, best of all, the trout proved superior to the con- 

 ventions of their kind on such a day at such a season. 

 In brief, I picked up, that afternoon, seven brace of 

 nice, even trout, half-pounders and third of a pounders. 

 When I got home that evening my sporting hosts 

 almost embraced me. The pleasure my comparative — 

 and perhaps, by them, unlooked for — success gave them 

 was a very different thing from the benevolent grati- 

 fication of the ordinary landlord or landlady that their 

 guest is enjoying himself, and will come again or 

 recommend them to his friends. There was nothing 

 of that here. I had to tell them the exact spots 

 where I had caught each fish, and what flies had taken, 

 with every detail, and then I had their own experiences 

 and those of others in past days on the water which, 

 under good conditions and in the right season, must 

 in truth be a grand bit of wet-fly fishing. As the 

 weather showed no signs of improvement I went up 

 again the next day but one, missed all the park water 

 this time, and fished the gorge up stream twice over, 

 and brought back eight or nine brace of nice sizeable 

 fish, which established me more firmly than ever in 

 the good graces of this estimable couple. This new 

 attitude extended to the rest of our party, and things 

 were quite different for the remainder of our stay. 

 The gentleman no longer crept up from below and 

 left only the boots at the top of the stairs, but if I 

 was about lingered long in the hall and poured out 

 his heart on the things that, next to his wife, held 

 possession of it. 

 150 



