58 ANGLING & ART IN SCOTLAND 



Dumfries had said would cause the fish to rise ; 

 and not only the flood, but the atmosphere was 

 clear once more. It behoved us to make an early 

 start in the morning; for other anglers — local hands, 

 with their "weaver's beams" — would be out. But 

 what ordinary mortal could hope to arrive on the 

 scene of action before the early bird of a local 

 fisherman? Our only chance was to drive many 

 miles up the valley beyond the ken of the villager 

 with his worm-tackle ; therefore was it incumbent 

 on us to make a move, in order to form our dis- 

 positions for the morrow. 



It was to the Burn of the Dogs, Polmaddy, that 

 John and I resolved to drive that Monday morning ; 

 — a wise decision, for we did not condescend to 

 the use of the lowly worm, and it was only in the 

 clearer amber of the burn that the trout could be 

 tempted to rise to the fly. But even these burn 

 trout were not to be despised, and towards evening, 

 when the thickness of the water had somewhat 

 subsided, our attempts in the river itself proved 

 by no means unfruitful ; for in the shallower 

 places a plump half-pounder here and there re- 

 warded our efforts. It was with glowing hearts 

 and elated step that we tramped back to the 



