98 REMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 



water above this pool, yet, generally speaking, 

 fish don't stay in it, but run through for the two 

 lochs. From this legitimate pool to the Major's 

 pool, about a mile, when there was plenty 

 of water and you knew it well, the fishing, to 

 my mind, was always charming ; for the gentle- 

 men were very merry, and dodged about in the 

 little narrows and pools in a very artful way. 

 I first discovered the charms of this part of the 

 water, for even Burnaby had never killed a fish 

 there till I found it out, and never used to think 

 of beginning to fish till he reached the Major's 

 pool. From this pool to the big pool was about 

 another mile and a half of charmingly varied 

 water — pools, streams, and narrows ; but it re- 

 quired fishing, though not long casting. It 

 used to be " nuts " to me, sniggling a fish out 

 of a corner that no man " unacquaint," as we 

 say, with the water would dream of trying. 

 The big pool, and the stream running into it, 

 was the crack cast of the river ; but I confess 

 it was not my pet, for when in prime order it 

 was necessary to cast a long line in the teeth 

 of the wind, or rather across the wind, three- 

 quarters against you, so that it was all but im- 

 possible to prevent your line bellying ; and your 

 fish rose on a curved, not a straight, line, which 

 is not as it should be. I have often wondered 



