ii6 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



the fish were all close to the opposite bank, and if for 

 a moment a different thought comes to them, and 

 they make a cast or two without success from a distance 

 back, they will be sure to step as far forward as they 

 can, and persevere with all their might for lengthened 

 periods to reach a spot no more likely to hold a fish 

 than the bit of water over which they are casting ani- 

 mated shadows. It's so much easier and more artistic 

 to drop your fly on the water that curls and gurgles 

 near your bank while showing only the gut and fly. 

 When you must go forward, do it cautiously and 

 grudgingly, searching up and down, with as little of 

 3'our rod flashing on the water as you can. 



Up to this time my one fly had fulfilled its promise, 

 but there seemed a lessening desire to take it, so I chose 

 a red spinner for a dropper, and gave the fish a choice, 

 not only a choice of flies but a choice of movement, 

 for the bob of the dropper is quite unlike and some 

 times far more taking than the movements of the 

 fly that swims, work it as hfe-like as you may. It 

 was so on this occasion. 



Ver\^ short was the afternoon, but the sport was 

 glorious while it lasted. It seemed, for a time, as if 

 every fish was making most determined efforts to 

 secure a share of the floating delicacies. At the lip 

 of every pool, just where the water flows over in a 

 quickening movement to meet the shallows, a shoal 

 of fish were making rings that crossed each other, 

 while not infrequently two fish would rise at the same 

 fl}^ How many we hooked I cannot say, as the 

 majority, indeed there were few exceptions, were 

 much less than a pound and a half and were returned; 

 it was only now and then we got a fish worth a place 

 amongst the morning captures. The fishes' boisterous 

 mood had the most sudden ending. Just as the 

 colourings of the setting sun were thrown upon the 

 water the wind died away, the river brought with 

 it a smoky mist, and the rise of flies and fish was over. 



i 



