A OAME AUTUMN FISH. 13 



make way up to the head of the pool, obliging us to pass 

 under the branches of the trees with the line reeled up 

 until the gut cast touched the rod top ; no sooner there, 

 than off he went down stream again with another run, 

 and again settled down. 



This business was real good sport, such as one rarely 

 gets even with the best of springers ; still we must admit 

 that after a certain length of time docility in a fish can 

 be appreciated : however, this fish was unfettered by the 

 influence of school boards and prided himself upon the 

 eccentricities of his own sweet will, so, as soon as he 

 had rested awhile, indulged in a dive of about 30 ft., or 

 perhaps more, and just as we were speculating as to 

 what would be his next move, we felt the cast grate and 

 held hard against what was undoubtedly a rock in the 

 depths of the pool. 



Here was a case of neck or nothing, and, for choice, 

 selecting the neck, we instantaneously dropped the point 

 of the rod to the level of the water, and felt the line 

 draw clear off the boulder, while immediately after the 

 fish jumped clean out of the water, almost under our 

 eyes, with the fly and cast hanging from his jaw. 



With grave doubts we reeled up, as there so far was 

 nothing to prove that the line was not cut; however, 

 these were soon dispelled, as the gradual draw on the 

 line indicated that the ruse had been successful and the 

 fish was still on. 



By this time the effects of his exertion were begin- 

 ning to tell, and his runs became shorter and shorter. 



