A GOOD TIME WITH THE TBOTJT. 81 



landed safely in the boat, and another, and another, fol- 

 lowed at almost every throw. Not once did the fly touch 

 the water that it was not risen to by a fish. 



" By Jove 1" said Spalding, as he handed me the landing- 

 net to take in his third or fourth trout, "this is sport. 

 You use the net, and I'll trail them to you. Let us make 

 hay while the sun shines. The other boat will soon be 

 along, and Smith will be for dipping his spoon into my dish. 

 I want to astonish him when he comes." 



We had secured eight beautiful fish when the Doctor and 

 Smith rounded the point above us. We motioned them 

 back, and their boat lay upon its oars. Spalding kept on 

 throwing his fly and trailing the trout to me to secure with 

 the landing-net." 



" Hallo I" shouted Smith, " hold on there ; fair play, my 

 friends, give me a hand in," and he fell to adjusting his rod 

 and flies. 



" Keep back, you lubber," replied Spalding ; " what do 

 you know about trout-fishing ? You'll frighten them all 

 away by your awkwardness." 



" No you don't 1" shouted Smith, his rod now adjusted. 

 " Drop down, boatman, and we'll see who is the lubber. 

 Wait, Spalding ! Don't throw, if you are a true man, until 

 we can take a fair start, and then the one that comes out 

 second best pays the piper." 



The boat dropped down to the proper position, and the 

 Doctor, who was seated in the stern, held it in place by 



4* 



