174 BT HOOK AND BY CROOK. 



and fell out while the fish was in the net ; but when 

 one^s in luck nothing can go wrong. 



To finish up^ we continued casting down towards the 

 middle of the pool to a spot where we had seen a fresh 

 fish repeatedly rise on the previous day (when walking 

 home), standing on tip-toe, throwing a very long line 

 in order to cover him. At the second cast he dashed 

 at the fly, which unfortunately came away, in all pro- 

 bability on account of our being late in striking by 

 reason of the long line. One taste of the steel was 

 sufficient for him, so we gave up for the day — and a long 

 hard day it was ; but there's nothing like a tramp along 

 the waterside if one wants to thoroughly enjoy that 

 bit of hillside mutton and cock one's legs on the 

 mantle-shelf after dinner while smoking the pipe of 

 peace with " whisky " ; it is preferable to ^' honour " on 

 such occasions — what think ye, anglers ? 



The weather, which latterly had been rough and 

 boisterous, had calmed down by this, our last day, 

 the warm west wind and hot sun bringing out the 

 March browns in quantities, as if they were determined 

 to make a good show on this their first appearance, 

 as far as we had observed. 



While putting on waders at the foot of the first pool 

 a fish rose, so we went for him and hooked him at the 

 third or fourth cast, at the edge of the fast-running water. 



We held him lightly while threading our way through 

 the rough stones to the bank, then gave it to him pretty 

 hard, which sent him off, tearing the line from the reel ; 



