THE NAMELESS CREEK. G9 



gaged, I again launched the flies out, which, paus- 

 ing a moment in mid-air as the straightened line 

 brought them up, began slowly to settle down, but 

 ere they touched the water four gleams of light 

 crossed the pool and four quivering forms, with 

 wide-spread tails and open mouths, leaped high 

 out of water. I struck, and, after a brief struggle, 

 landed two. From that moment the pool was lit- 

 erally alive with eager fish. The deep, dark water 

 actually effervesced, stirred into bul:)bles and foam. 

 Six trout did T see at once in mid-air, in zealous 

 rivalry to seize the coveted flies. Fifteen succes- 

 sive casts were made, and twenty-three trout 

 lay flaj)ping on the bottom of the boat. But of 

 them all none would weigh over three quarters 

 of a pound ; yet had I seen fish riee which must 

 have balanced twice that weight. I turned to John 

 and said, "Wliy don't some of those large ones 

 take the fly?" " Presently, presently," responded he. 

 " The little ones are too quick for them ; cast away 

 quick and sharp, waste no time, snap them off, never 

 mind the flies, and when you have cleared the sur- 

 face of the small fry you will see what lies at the 

 bottom." I complied. At last, after some forty 

 had been flung down the stream, the rises became 

 less frequent, the water less agitated, and, partly 

 to rest my \vrist and partly to give John time to 

 adjust new and larger flies, I paused. In five 

 minutes the current had cleared the pool of bub- 



