56 IN THE DAYS OF 



bush, with broad leaves of burdock and 

 dainty hedge parsley ahead, and behind 

 these the angler gingerly rises to one 

 knee. He examines his fly again, and 

 studies the circumstances under which 

 it is to be placed. The surface of the 

 sluggish stream is dimpled again, and 

 another May-fly disappears below the 

 surface. Even the water seems affected 

 by the oppression of the prevailing heat, 

 and it flows past with an oily ease. 

 There is a tuft of weed and a projecting 

 stick to be avoided, and the sun must 

 not cast the shadow of the uplifted rod 

 across the stream. The fly must be so 

 dropped that the effect of the current 

 upon the line will not cause it to " drag." 

 These things being duly considered, the 

 angler, with an imaginary cast or two, 

 measures the distance between himself 

 and the fish to a nicety, and, scarcely a 

 foot above the trout's lair, the fly falls 

 like a little feather. It cocks its wings 



