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for some days went down the stream below the bridge. 

 On the 1 2th I went up above the mill, to the end of 

 Hungerford liberty, where I saw five or six anglers, some 

 of whom I knew, throwing over two or three splendid 

 trout. I sat on the rails some little time looking on, when 

 a reverend gentleman came up and asked me to put my 

 rod together and come and try them. I refused, as the 

 gentlemen were friends of mine. He said : " You must 

 come, as I have made a bet that you will hook the three 

 fish." Under the circumstances I went, when they 

 immediately left off, sticking their rods in the ground. I 

 put my rod together, selecting a strong casting line, well 

 testing it through my hands, and soaking it. I then took 

 out my box of May flies, choosing a large one, dressed as 

 follows : Body, cream-coloured Berlin wool, tested; tail, 

 three strands from a hen pheasant tail feather ; wings, a 

 dyed mallard feather, rather dark ; a long buff hackle, 

 with brown centre, ribbed down the body, and a small tag 

 of gold tinsel. This is the correct dressing, as I have the 

 fly before me now. After attaching the fly, one of the 

 gentlemen wished to throw with my rod, exclaiming, 

 " That's the fly that will kill them !" It was along throw, 

 (nearly twenty-five yards,) to the opposite side, close to 

 some hazel bushes. He threw a splendid line, and the fly 

 went over the fish a dozen times, but he took no notice 

 of it. The gentleman who had made the bet, said, " Give 

 up the rod ; Ogden will have him directly." I told them 

 I must give the fish a rest. I sat down on my basket, 

 carefully watching how he was feeding ; and after he had 

 taken a few drakes at intervals, I said I would try him. 



