A Red Letter Day 199 



keepable fish accepted my offering. Perhaps 

 " The Cherub," who, like "Ah Sin," is " child- 

 like and bland," had imposed on their appetites 

 and credulity. A very favourite cast of mine, 

 a little further down, is a deep run which 

 rushes rather than ripples under overhanging 

 hazel and alder bushes close by where a mill 

 leat turns off from the main river ; it is a very 

 difficult cast, and to a novice almost an im- 

 possible one ; however, luck was on my side 

 to-day, and I got my flies well under and 

 across a flashing shadow darted from under 

 the bank, and there was a heavy swirl ; no 

 need to strike, for my rod was almost snatched 

 from my grasp and bent double ; the reel 

 screamed as line was torn off it, and a large 

 fish leaped once, twice, and a third time in 

 the air as he made his terrific rush ; hold 

 him I could not on my little ten-foot rod, 

 and he went down down would he never 

 stop or come back ? At last he seemed to 



