TROUT FISHING. 19 



moment I heard a tremendous splashing in the water 

 above me, accompanied by something halfway be- 

 tween a grunt and a groan. I was startled, and 

 turning my eyes in the direction of the tumult, saw 

 my companion floundering in the water. With a 

 short crooked pole, he had been endeavoring to mount 

 a smooth, slippery rock and cast his cord-line into a 

 hole where it looked as if trout mii2rht lurk. Just as he 

 was fetching back his rod with a tremendous swing, his 

 foot slipped and over he rolled into the swift current, 

 making the splashing that had startled me so. His 

 hat was otf and his long hair streamed o^'er his face, 

 as now up and now down he struggled to steady his 

 uncertain footing. At length, he brought up against 

 a rock, and "thunder and lightning," were the first 

 words that escaped his lips, as he looked around to 

 determine his whereabouts. He was a capital subject 

 for a picture, as he thus stood, bareheaded, hanging 

 on the rock, and muttering to himself. Between the 

 fright and the laugh, I lost my trout, but I have made 

 my mark on him and will have him yet. 



