226 A YEAR OF LIBERTY ; OR, 



book was hasstily looked over, and a small orange silk body, grouse 

 backle, and owl's wing selected as point, wMlst a golden olive trout- 

 fly was elected to the office of dropper. 



The good effects of the change were soon apparent, and every 

 pool became the scene of a fresh triumph. This was too good to 

 last. The mist which had been lying all the morning in heavy 

 masses on the crest of Carrig-a-Binniogh began now to wear a more 

 threatening aspect ; even to an inexperienced eye it looked ominous. 

 Pat knew its import well. *' Yer honour's sport is nearly over for the 

 present ; there's a lump o' rain about to fall on the mountain, and 

 the flood will be on us afore ye can try the three next pools." 



This additional stimulus was not required. The wild glen, the 

 tall mountains, the dark torrent, and the stern and lonely character 

 of the scene all conspired to fill me with enthusiasm. The enjoy- 

 ment was no longer of that tranquil kind so faithfully depicted by 

 honest Izaak and his follwers ; it had grown a fierce and eager 

 passion. But three more pools ! Could fate be so cruel ? On we 

 dashed to make the most of the brief space which remained. The 

 three pools mentioned by Pat were the most tempting I had seen for 

 the day. No sooner had the fly lit on the water than a small 

 trout under 21b. marked it for his own, and was soon safely stowed 

 with his kindred in the pannier. He had hardly disturbed the 

 water away flew the fly, again it was seized, and this time by a 

 larger fish. Bearing heavily on the tackle, I snatched a hurried 

 glance at the mountain which seemed to tower almost immediately 

 .above us. The cloud had burst, and its contents were leaping 

 towards the glen in a thousand petty channels, rapidly uniting, and 

 then thuiidering on with increased speed and volume. Heavier and 

 heavier the line was strained on the struggling captive, till he neared 

 the surface, and was dexterously netted before half his energies were 

 exhausted. 



" Hooroo ! ^hooroo ; there's time for another ; go it yer honour 1" 



Suiting the action to the word, my excited companion sped away 

 towards a point some fifty yards ahead. A 51b. trout floundering in 

 the net, and resisting all Pat's attempts to extract the hook, sadly 



