LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES 



ing Grey and Brown gave him a lift in their wagonette, 

 and dropped him at the larch plantation so that he 

 might, by the short cut of a woodland path, attain the 

 hut in the middle of his beat. Before climbing over 

 the stile he exhibited the big fly which he had selected 

 as the likely killer for the day, and offered Grey one 

 if he preferred it. Grey, however, had his own fancies, 

 and declined with thanks ; there was a mutual chant- 

 ing of " So long ; tight lines," and the purist went off 

 to his hut and the rod which he kept there. 



Brown, with his compact paraphernalia, was put 

 across from the lower end of the pool to the right bank. 

 This was necessary for his share of the day's work, which 

 was to take snapshots of his friend operating from the 

 left shore. The fishing part of the Rowan Pool was 

 directly under a rocky cliff opposite, and the position 

 for the kodakeer was a clump of bushes on a small 

 natural platform half-way down. From this elevation 

 he could look into the deep water where the salmon 

 was generally found, and could command the entire 

 pool with his apparatus. Grey's side was an easily- 

 sloping shingle with firm foothold out of the force of 

 the stream, an assuring advantage to a man who had 

 to wade within a foot of his armpits. 



" Are you there ? " by and by shouted Grey, look- 

 ing across to the bushy ledge of the cliff. " Yes, and 

 all ready," replied Brown, so well concealed that the 

 angler had to look twice to discover him. It was a full 

 water, and every cast that would send the fly to its 

 place must be close upon thirty yards. Whatever 

 may be pretended to the contrary, this is mighty fine 

 throwing when it is done time after time; and Grey, 

 having fruitlessly fished his pool down twice with dif- 

 ferent flies, waded ashore. 



Had Brown seen sign of a fish ? No, he had not. 



