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ging vigorously, altliough ineffectually, to reacli a 

 fi-iendlj' weed bed, but her head yields to the rod pressure, 

 and with open mouth she wriggles helplessly into the net — ■ 

 a beautj' of nearly a pound, and as "handsome as paint." 

 lier mate is still making big rings undisturbed and inno- 

 cent of the tragedy which has just been enacted so 'dose at 

 hand, so we'll just get the fly nicely dried by a few artistic 

 floui"ishes, and present it for his acceptance. He's snapped 

 it ! yes, and flings himself out of water jumping up and 

 down in a manner which shows that he is lightly hooked 

 and he'll soon be off — by jove ! he's gone ! Whenever 

 a trout dances in that way you may be sure he is only 

 caught by the slightest of holds, and the fish usually gets 

 rid of the hook by a series of jumps. Those blue duns now 

 increase upon the water, and my olives are no longer looked 

 at, a dozen rising fish cast over carefully and unsuccess- 

 fully, and then we try in despair red gnats, yellow duns, and 

 everything else that is at all likely to pass muster. This 

 is dreadfully vexing and tantalising, for with the right fly 

 there is no reason why ten brace of fish should not be cap- 

 tured, and we will waste no more time, but make for the 

 village, and hunt up those local " quid nuncs," the parson, 

 schoolmaster, and tailor who sometimes wield the rod, and 

 see if they can help us to a blue dun. " He's gone for his 

 holiday, sir," is the answer at the house of the dominee. 

 "He's in London, sir," is the result at the parsonage, and 

 the tailor shows us half-a-dozen dilapidated old flies that 

 none but a lunatic trout, far gone in brain softening, would 

 look at, and Mr. Snip candidly confessed that he " catches 

 most with shrimps ! " It is disheartening to have tramped 

 all this way in waders and heavy brogues, but with patient 

 resignation we will visit yon snug little hostelry, and order 

 tea to be ready when the day's work is done, borrow a bit of 

 sewing silk from the landlady, and see if we cannot manage 

 to tie some flies to match those upon the water. The 

 stableyard furnishes the needful blue feather from a pigeon, 

 and having trudged back to our fishing ground let us 

 spread a macintosh upon this sloping bank, with the river 

 at our feet, and here smoke the pipe of peace, whilst I tie a 



