266 . A YEAR OF LIBERTY ; OR, 



around me showing clear and purple against the sky. Standing on 

 the grass plot, one glance at the river warned me to avoid it, but a 

 crisp north-west air whispered a pleasant song about the lake. At 

 this season the angler's day need not begin before ten, and seldom 

 extends much after five, so we strolled slowly back to make the most 

 of Mrs. Cunningham's capital breakfast. Seated at my side of the 

 table, quite unconscious of the pains endured on his account, was that 

 hairy monster Jack, eyeing alternately the milk and a polished 

 metallic cover, from beneath which savoury odours were rising It 

 was a pleasure to see him. Well, well ! I must make up my mind 

 to carry him all the days of his life. 



Lobster and eggs, cutlet and toast, coffee and tea, are wonderful 

 restoratives ; at least, they restored me so completely that an hour 

 afterwards I shouted lustily for Willie and his mate, and was soon 

 moving warily over the shallows towards the middle lake. 



Less than half way up its northern shore, a long bar of sand and 

 gravel stretched across the mouth of the mountain river previously 

 mentioned. Here salmon bred in the stream congregate till the late 

 autumn floods tempt them to ascend ; and as this season many fish 

 were on the lodge, we expected at this point to find sport. From 

 west to east the bank was tried with a dark cast of flies ; from east 

 to west it was flogged with the most sparkling beauties our book 

 contained. The first experiment was a total failure ; the second 

 attempt was little better. We rose a fish certainly, but that was 

 all. Five times out of six, unless a salmon be very stale, if he comes 

 once he will come again ; but we could make nothing out of this 

 one. Ten times the flies were changed. We tried him deep, we 

 tried him on the surface ; he was attacked from the shore side, from 

 the lake side, from the east, from the west. For one mortal hour 

 that creature stood siege ; then the baffled assailants drew off their 

 forces, and very crestfallen they were. Still following the north 

 shore, we presently reached a low reef of dark water-worn rocks, 

 where with renewed hope we recommenced our labours. When 

 about half over the cast a fine fish of 13lb, or 141b. sailed quietly 

 up to the dropper, but if his mouth was not closed I am much 



