FLY FISHING. 73 



"That little gust of wind must have deceived you I suppose," 

 observes the scholar. 



" No, no," replies the angler, " we must place the saddle upon 

 the right horse, the deceiver was my own conceit which made me 

 overrate my skill." 



"But why did'nt you flick off your flies the moment they touch- 

 ed the bush ?" inquires the scholar. 



Old Angler. Because if I had done so I should have undoubtedly 

 fixed one or both of them firmly in some twig or other : whereas 

 now my case is not utterly hopeless. Now mark me should 

 your line or flies at any time chance to drop upon a branch of a 

 tree or any other obstacle, don't try to catch them off suddenly, 

 as that will most likely fix them there but pause for a second or 

 two, and then endeavour to draw them slowly off in this manner 

 see not a fly catches by this slow and quiet process gently aye 

 all clear and I've a rise the moment my flies reach the water, 

 and a good fish too, and firmly hooked I'll be bound from his 

 making at once for the bottom. No, no, master trout, no grub- 

 bing against the ground ; come down the stream you must. You 

 see, scholar, this is a game fellow. Ah ! master trout, that trick 

 won't serve your turn. Now observe, when a fish makes a quick 

 rush as this fish just did, you must be ready to follow him up in- 

 stantly, at the same time indulging him with a little line which 

 you must make him work hard for, taking care to keep the butt of 

 the rod well up so as to keep it in constant play, and reel up short 

 again the first opportunity. Come, he's beginning now to wax 

 faint, and one turn more will subdue him. There, now he's fairly 

 beaten, so put the landing net quietly under him : now lift away 

 and he's all my own. That's right, and thank you. Well he 

 really is a fine fish ; and well worth risking a fling with the haw- 

 thorn bush for the chance of getting hold of? eh ! 



Scholar. Upon my word he really is a splendid fellow ! Such a 

 small head and deep body, and such splendid spots and colour, we 

 have no such trout in any of our rivers. But tell me, I was so 

 anxious lest my clumsiness with the landing net might cause the 

 loss of your fish that I can't decide with certainty, but it did appear 

 to me that you put your hand to your line to draw the fish towards 

 the landing net ? 



Old Angler. And you consequently thought my practise did'nt 

 correspond with my preaching ; but you did not at the same time 



