DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 145 



A huge swirl and a tightening hne, and then I\Iac's 

 voice, 'Be canny, be canny, the fly is very old.' By 

 this time the hsh had felt the hook, and was off on a 

 long rising rush that ended in a leap in spite of the 

 lowered top. Then came the raising of it again to feel 

 the fish. What an anxious moment when the prize 

 is over twenty pounds ! Shall I feel him or is he gone ? 

 We breathed again and with a stronger faith in the 

 old gut eye that had stood the strain of such a rush 

 and leap. It held until the fish was gaffed, and here 

 it is, the only relic I have, except his gaff (which with 

 his last words he left for me), of my good gillie, ]\Iac. 



