TWO MONTHS AT SPEYSIDE 175 



deplorable jealousy rankling in my heart against my host, 

 which had come about in this way. We had had a bet of 

 five shillings as to who took the biggest fish, and Charlie 

 had lately landed a noble one of twenty-five pounds, which 

 fact he good - naturedly mentioned many times a day, as, 

 indeed, well he might, for large spring fish are rare on the 

 Spey, although in the autumn plenty of heavier ones are 

 got. Well, our time was nearly up, and as we ferried across 

 the river on the last day but one the ferryman said to me, 

 " Indeed, but she's in fine ply the day, sir ; " and right 

 enough the man was, for a big, rolling, peat-stained water 

 was running under the boat, but yet quite clear enough for 

 fishing. 



As I jumped ashore, Boatie called after me, "Good sport, 

 sir, and I'm thinking you will get it if you're deeligent." His 

 prophecy, however, appeared likely to be wrong, for up to 

 three o'clock I had not seen even a fish splash. I was wading 

 deep in the water while nearing the tail of a favourite cast 

 when my line tightened very slowly to a long dead pull. 

 Raising the rod smartly, for a second it was uncertain if 

 I had hooked a rock or a sunken bough, for there had been 

 no sign of a "boil." All doubts, however, were instantly 

 dispelled by a sharp tug, and then screech went the reel, great 

 waves in circles spread around, while a huge tail lashed the 

 water white. Three times then did my captive dash best pace 

 in a great oval round the end of the pool, the meanwhile keep- 

 ing close to the surface, and sending forth waves on either side 

 like a small steam launch ; then steadily he began to bore up 

 stream, and having found a place to suit him, he commenced 

 a sulk. 



I seized this opportunity to get into shallow water, and as 

 I neared the bank my gillie broke the silence by saying, 

 "Yon's a verra heavy fish, sir, but I fear me he's too big 

 to be anything but a kelt." To this I vouchsafed no reply, 

 but got well below my captive and put on considerable 



