SPIRIT OF THE CHASE 9 



rose out of the water. There was no mistaking. At 

 least one salmon had strayed into Loch Earn. He 

 was in a direct line from my companion, who was 

 seated at the stern of the boat, while I was at the 

 bow, nearer the shore. That is to say, if we went on 

 as we were going the learned Judge's flies would ere 

 long fall over the fish. An evil thought beset me. 

 Had his Lordship seen the rise ? Perhaps not. He 

 was not saying anything. His gaze was assiduously 

 fixed on the water where his flies were falling. As 

 he was so much absorbed, I might possibly, without 

 being caught in the act, give the oars a touch and 

 send the boat three or four yards out. Then I 

 myself, rather than he, should have a chance of the 

 salmon. This was a quickly fleeting rumination. 

 That fish was clearly his Lordship's bird. I banished 

 the sneakish thought, and inwardly rebuked myself 

 for having allowed it to arise. Silently on we went ; 

 silently; silently until we were very nearly within 

 casting distance of the fateful spot. Then, his line 

 hanging loose in the water, his Lordship turned to- 

 wards me and ordered me to pull in. " Didn't you 

 see it ? " he growled, wrathful ly. His tone and his 

 countenance wore the thunderous aspect that would 

 have been the befitting response to a practical joke. 

 Indeed, he believed that I had such a prank in hand. 

 He actually thought I had been wilfully leading him 

 into the salmon's way. Although, the wind being 

 fresh, he was armed with his " storm rod," fourteen 

 feet of cane and lancewood, his Lordship was shirk- 

 ing the chance of again encountering a salmon ! 



