118 A YEAR OF liberty; OR, 



"Never a better was wetted," he said, giving me tlie butt. 



Anyone possessed of liands could float a line down a stream, but 

 that would not have been fishing our bridge. First, it must be tried 

 close to the arches, and this can only be effected by keeping the 

 point near the water, and the rod parallel to the masonry ; then a 

 little more line may be paid out, and the glittering fly made to dart 

 across the rapid, play in the eddy, and so skim back again into the 

 current ; and, lastly, more and more length is given by slow degrees, 

 till that portion of the water has been fairly tried. Now there are 

 many arches (some far better than others), so it may be easily 

 imagined we have suflScient work on our hands, till a breathless 

 messenger announces, at half-past eight, ''Breakfast is ready." 

 The third and fourth streams from the north side were especial 

 favourites, but each was worked in vain, with two or three changes. 

 This was the more vexatious, as the wide sheet of water between us 

 and the falls was alive with fish, springing high in air or casting 

 themselves horizontally over the surface, often showing their broad 

 and silvery sides distinctly for many a yard as they dived below. It 

 needed not the magic ointment of the dervish to see that a treasure 

 lay there ; but now to win it was the question. 



It is hardly possible to have too much line for this throw, as the 

 angler is well-nigh chained to his post. On the south side there is 

 no possibility of following a fish, and on the north the propriety of 

 such a step is very questionable, for it can only be done by dropping 

 the rod to your attendant as he stands below. Supposing such a 

 transfer safely effected, you cannot follow more than fifty or sixty 

 yards, when the depth of the water forbids all further advance. But 

 it is not often a fresh salmon takes this steady downward course. 

 Desperate runs in the direction of the falls are inevitable ; but 

 in nineteen cases out of twenty, while strength remains, he 

 will again head up stream, and eventually come within reach of 

 the gaff. 



"What ! never a fish?" said an ancient professional, who, too old 

 to follow the river, yet haunted the bridge. " WiU your honour let 

 me look at your book ?" 



