234 AN OPEN CREEL 



means beaten, I quietly reached out with the gaff, and 

 by great good luck got the stroke in as he turned. 

 The fly came away as I carried him up the bank ! 



So pleased was I with this result that I demanded no 

 more of fortune that day, little dreaming how kind she 

 was to prove. I laid the ten-pounder out under a furze- 

 bush, smoked a pipe in great contentment, and then 

 fished the pool down again, caring little whether I 

 moved another or not. And in precisely the same spot 

 I got into a second salmon, which went off with a fine 

 rush and jumped like a spring fish. This was a heavier 

 one, but there was no jiggering, and I dared to put on 

 a greater strain. In about twelve minutes there were 

 two fish lying under the furze-bush ; the second drew 

 the spring balance down to fourteen and a quarter 

 pounds. After this I smoked the most joyful pipe I 

 have smoked for a long time. Two fish in a day from 

 that water were matter enough to smoke about. And 

 then I went over the pool again, though I did not 

 believe it contained any more salmon. But against all 

 probability there was yet a third fish. It was only a 

 small one of four and a half pounds, but it was a third 

 fish, and as such a kind of miracle. Had my load been 

 composed of coals or potatoes I should have grumbled 

 at the long walk between me and the station. As it was 

 I rejoiced in the weight, and even fished two more pools 

 on the way downstream. 



At last, about 5 p.m., I came to divided ways. One 

 led to the station, and I could just catch a train ; the 

 other would take me to a pool which was seldom 

 fished, but whose appearance I had liked well. 

 Deciding on the more arduous part and a later train, I 



