226 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



fortune was not destined to cease here, and we had 

 soon the further gratification of showing the rod-butt 

 to three prime grilses and one salmon, which latter 

 was anchored on by myself in midst of a perilous 

 eddy, out of which I found it no easy task to force 

 him, and prevent the cutting of my line on certain 

 sharp-toothed rocks which lay in the direction he aimed 

 at. Luckily, however, my tackle was not deficient in 

 strength, and on putting it resolutely to the test, 

 I was able to effect the wished for control over my 

 fish, and ere long to gaff and secure him. I will not, 

 however, detain you with any further mention of our 

 angling exploits in this quarter. Zealous craftsmen as 

 we were, our appetite for sport became strangely im- 

 paired by the want of those scenic attractions, which 

 operate like sunshine on the heart, and keep the 

 springs of joy open within it. The savage desolate- 

 ness of the surrounding moorland had greatly lowered 

 our spirits, and we shrunk away after a week's resi- 

 dence at Fort-William, like guilty things that had 

 busied ourselves with butcheries, not of fish, but of 

 our fellows. 



The next scene of our achievements (continued 

 Mr. Wandle-weir) was Loch Ness. Hiring a boat 

 early on the morning after our arrival at Fort- 

 Augustus, we beat up and down both sides of this 

 beautiful expanse of water, without so much as 

 stirring a single fin until the approach of noon. 



