2i6 LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES 



non-taking humours. Sea trout, 'however, are notoriously 

 capricious, and not being likely to get any moister 

 than I already was from the rain, I determined, before 

 saying a final good-bye, to toil on through the two 

 hours after low water, notwithstanding that what re- 

 mained was the lower part of the beat on which the 

 slight incoming tide made itself felt earliest. 



When you are fishing on the forlorn-hope principle, 

 you are not thinking much about the immediate chances 

 of sport. At times of anything like encouragement, 

 you are keenly particular as to the fall of the fly and 

 its correct working on an even keel ; nay, you are so 

 sensitive and alert that the touch of a passing leaflet 

 on the hook produces some sort of excitement. Every 

 cast goes out with a cluster of hopes in pursuit, and 

 dreams as to possibilities ; you keep looking round to 

 be satisfied that the gaff is ready to hand, and every- 

 thing in the boat shipshape for action. As it was after 

 luncheon to-day, you think of anything but a fish 

 taking hold ; you swish on monotonously and mechani- 

 cally ; you muse of friends at home and abroad, of the 

 sport you enjoyed yesterday or the day before, of 

 chances lost, perhaps even of your general career 

 through either a well-ordered or misspent life as the 

 case may happen to be ; and then, hey presto ! you 

 are startled, brought up with a round turn by a sudden 

 plunge of the rod and that delicious sound an alarm 

 of the reel. 



This was precisely my case, and from the evidences 

 permitted it should have been a worthy fish which, so 

 suddenly welcome, intruded upon reverie. One of the 

 disadvantages of boat fishing in a big, strongly flowing 

 Norway river, is the prolonged chances given to your 

 fish by the necessity of going ashore to land him. We 

 had now to tow this unknown quantity close upon a 



