A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS. 219 



Thus it follows that if, while the rise is on, the line 

 be lifted when it arrives at the edge of the main current, 

 smolts will be avoided and much valuable time saved. 



The novice does not always grasp this situation, and 

 often complains bitterly of the time he has lost on account 

 of the smolts. 



To return to the subject, — It was now 3 o'clock and 

 the main rise over, yet we were on the alert to avail 

 ourselves, should opportunity offer, of the second rise, 

 which frequently occurs about half an hour after the 

 first has ceased; and during the interval took a rest 

 while disposing of the usual lunch, leaving the cast to 

 soak in the stream so that no time might be lost, as at 

 this season of the year the after-rise is rarely of more 

 than a few minutes' duration. 



Just in the nick of time out blinked the sun, and 

 sure enough out came the second batch of feed ; so we 

 quickly jumped into the place where the trout were 

 busiest, and soon bagged a brace of half-pounders. 



Out shot the line again and we hooked another, that 

 had taken the tail-fly under water, making no surface 

 rise. 



This, sure enough, was a big fish, as instead of shaking 

 his head he contented himself with remaining deep 

 below the surface, seeming bent on a long struggle. 



Two or three minutes passed by without any signs 

 of his giving in, when turning to our attendant on the 

 bank, we jokingly remarked, *' Hullo ! Geordie, this one 

 plays just like a salmon ! " 



