A DISAPPOINTMENT. 329 



principally abroad and in countries where fly-fishing was 

 not practicable, a few years ago met me on a fishing 

 excursion. His essays with the fly, from lack of experi- 

 ence, were not generally successful ; but when I hooked a 

 heavy fish and handedhhn the rod to play the deluded 

 victim, his countenance, particularly if victorious, exhibited 

 more satisfaction than I believe it would have done if he 

 had made thousands of dollars Fishing legitimate 

 fishing with rod and fly requires but to be known and 

 practised to have more votaries than any other sport 

 extant. 



The next afternoon I killed four more fish, all worthy of 

 a place in the memory of the most successful angler, all 

 deserving of notice for their plucky efforts to avoid their 

 doom. 



Just as I was thinking of closing up for the night, my 

 companion shouted to me that there was a bear in the 

 water. On looking up stream, sure enough Bruin was in 

 sight, stemming the current, and boldly pushing for this 

 side. With hasty impulse I laid my rod down to grasp my 

 rifle, but, alas ! my attendant, fatigued with carrying it. 

 and seeing small prospect of its being required, had 

 left it leaning against a rock some distance off You 

 may well imagine my disappointment, for when the bear 

 left the water he was not over twenty-five yards above my 

 position. This animal, judging from his size, must have 

 been quite four hundred pounds a size much greater than 

 it generally attains in the north-west. Until he had firmly 

 gained his footing he had not observed us, and the ludi- 

 crousness of his alarm and astonishment when he became 



