43 



aye," lie replied, "maybe, but there's a rise away by tlie 

 rushes there " — indicating a short cast on my left. More 

 to mollify him than with any intention of trying for a fish, 

 the fl}' was dropped on the spot indicated, and there came 

 a dimple such as would be made from the rise of a three- 

 ounce " brownie." Striking lazily, the effect was like that 

 of a match applied to a rocket. " By jove ! you're into a 

 whacker," exclaimed my friend, as the fish tore the line off 

 the reel, and the boatman rowed madly in pursuit. It was 

 a grand burst, followed by a succession of skittering leaps 

 along the surface of the water, showing us that we had a 

 sea-trout on that would take a lot of killing. Without a 

 wink of warning he came straight at the boat, 

 and underneath it he went in spite of all attempts 

 to turn him. But he reckoned without his host, for the rod 

 was dipped around the stern and the line went clear 

 of the keel — barring accidents his fate was now sealed. 

 " He's a wild deil," sajs our boatman, as the fish makes 

 another ugly rush and throws a somersault out of the water, 

 and I catch a muttered malediction upon the folly of people 

 going out "fushin' with childer's playthings." This in 

 reference to my wee ten-foot of split cane. But the wild 

 fury of the hooked fish was too great to last, and although 

 the fight was a stubborn one, the little rod eventually 

 won, and we lifted into the boat a lovely 51b. sea-trout as 

 bright as burnished silver. The time taken up in killing 

 him, however, had somewhat soured our attendant, and he 

 cut short our admiration of the fish by telling us that 

 " there are more of them waiting to be caught if ye would 

 only go on fushin'." Thus rebuked, we hurriedly per- 

 formed those pagan rights which all true anglers observe 

 upon such occasions, and set ourselves seriously to making 

 th(? most of the last half-hour of daylight. A couple of 

 liTown trout were all that rewarded our efPorts with the fly, 

 so mounting the minnows we trolled home. My companion 

 had the good luck to kill a 61b. grilse within a hundred 

 yards of our destination, and we thus went to our homely 

 qiigrteis well pleased with our evening's sport and at peace 

 with all mankind. 



