CONTRARIES OF WEATHER AND SPORT 207 



been allowed to sweep round with the stream. I got a 

 couple of 9-in. fish, and knew that the half-pounders 

 were not rising. 



Next I moved in to above the knees, and pulled out a 

 little more line ; was looking up at the snow patches on 

 the mountain tops, and the fir trees on the slope, when 

 I was startled by a rude pluck and a whirring of the 

 little reel. I receded to shore as quickly as I could with 

 a bent rod and running fish to hold, and then became 

 aware that my line could not be more than thirty 

 yards in length. Down and down went the fish. Some- 

 times he paused and shook himself ; now and again 

 he even responded to my winching in, or even played 

 about without rushing. Once he ran ten yards up- 

 stream, but for the most part I ran with him, and was 

 mainly absorbed by a desire to keep as much line in 

 hand as possible. D. had seen my position at once, 

 and was soon at my rear, pocket gaff in hand, and all 

 the sadness gone from his harsh visage. I think the 

 fight lasted about ten minutes, but it was splendid 

 battle every moment of the time, and D. finally gaffed 

 out a silvery grilse, the smallest I had ever taken. I 

 weighed him on the spot ; he was 3 Ib. He had taken 

 the small edition of the Killer, and a few moments more 

 would have given him liberty. 



This was an encouraging beginning certainly, for I 

 suppose no man complains if, going out to catch half- 

 pound trout, he bags a grilse, small though it be. Now 

 I regretted that I had no longer line, and that I had not 

 stuck to the winch which I had replaced by one of 

 my own a small ebony and silver one, which five- 

 and-twenty years ago formed part of a collection of 

 goods composing the only prize I ever received. It 

 happened that the biggest pike of the year at the 

 Stanley Anglers, of which I was a member, had been 



