THE INCALCULABLE GRAYLING 191 



followed, was also disregarded, and was succeeded by 

 a medium-sized Brunton's fancy. 



It was not possible to see the fly as it floated, and 

 the utmost that could be done was to watch for its 

 fall, and then guess at its probable position lower down 

 the stream, striking at any sign of a ring in the neigh- 

 bourhood. The grayling continued to rise, and this 

 was an encouragement to cast over them, even though 

 an occasional strike proved that they were rising purely 

 on their own business. At last, however, a fish actually 

 did take the fly, was hooked, and landed a tiny little 

 thing of some five inches, which returned to its own 

 place. Another microscopic fish was pricked, and 

 then the foolishness of wasting any more time over 

 the shoal, which was obviously composed of fry, 

 became evident. A move was accordingly made up- 

 stream, and, in the interests of warmth, a mile was 

 covered at a good round pace. The mist now lifted 

 a little, and it became possible to see not only the 

 other bank of the river, but even the red roofs of a 

 neighbouring village ; also there was a faint very faint 

 glow which indicated that the sun was in existence, 

 even though not quite visible. Simultaneously the 

 grayling began to rise, but only, as it appeared, in one 

 short stretch. Both above and below not a fish moved, 

 but in this stretch they rose well at nothing, or nothing 

 that could be detected. 



Almost at once a three-quarter-pound fish accepted 

 the Brunton's fancy, and was safely netted and trans- 

 ferred to the bag as being well above the limit for the 

 water, which is only eleven inches. It was followed by 

 another grayling, a little smaller, which was returned, 



