DIES PISCATORl^ 569 



put on a good sized coachman witli lead-colored wings, and 

 as soon as I get a few handsful of grass, to throw in the 

 bottom of my creel, I'll button on my landing-net and cross 

 over, with the help of this stick of drift-wood, for it is pretty 

 strong wading just here. Do you see that rift, and the flat 

 rock at the lower end of it which just comes above the sur- 

 face of the water, and divides the stream as it rushes into the 

 pool below ? There's fishing in rift and pool both ; so I'll 

 begin at the top of the rift, if I can get through these alders. 

 Go in, my little rod, point foremost ; I would not break that 

 tip at this time to save the hair on my head ; — hold ! that 

 twig has caught my dropper — easy, now, — all clear — through 

 the bushes at last. 



When I was here last July, and fished the pool below, there 

 was no rift above, the water hardly came above my ankles; 

 now it is knee-deep ; if there was less it would be better for the 

 pool ; but it makes two casts now, where there was only one 

 last summer, and I have no doubt there is a pretty fellow by 

 the margin of the strong water, on this side of the rock, — an 

 easy cast, too, — just about eight yards from the end of my 

 tip. Not there — a little nearer the rock. What a swirl ! He 

 did not show more than his back ; but he has my hackle. I 

 had to strike him, too, for he took it under water like a bait — 

 they will do so when the stream is full. Get out of that cur- 

 rent, my hearty, and don't be flouncing on top, but keep un- 

 derneath, and deport yourself like an honest, fair fighter! 

 There you are, now, in slack water ; you can't last long, tug- 

 ging at this rate ; so come along, to my landing-net ; it's no 

 use shaking your head at me ! What a shame to thrust my 

 thumb under that rosy gill ! but there is no help for it, for 

 you might give me the slip as I take the hook out of your 

 mouth, and thrust you, tail-foremost, into the hole of my creel. 

 You are my first fish, and you know you are my luck ; so I 



