302 SALMON FISHING 



"Sir Herbert seems to have been a bit off the 

 line about the spring sea-trout. Now, don't you 

 think that, as we have had our lunch, and there 

 may soon be another rise of fly, " 



Whir-r-r-rrr ! 



That represents, though feebly, a sound that 

 suddenly rose from the pool. On looking round 

 and down we saw that the rod fixed by the spear 

 between stones at the edge of the water was in a 

 lively state. It was bent and quivering, and the 

 line was being torn across the deeps. 



Simultaneously we both moved to go down ; but 

 neither of us was expeditious. We seemed to be 

 hung dangerously high in the air. It had been easy 

 to reach our seats on the branches; but it was not easy 

 to quit them. For a moment I thought remorsefully 

 about having looked upon the wine-cup when it was 

 red and yellow; but soon I realised that the diffi- 

 culty arose from just having peered down the side 

 of the tree towards the river, which, unlike the side 

 we had ascended, was perpendicular and of giddy 

 height. In short, we had lost our bearings some- 

 what. 



Miss Winsome, however, had not lost her wits. 

 " I hope,"" she remarked, " it is not Yellow Sally he 

 has taken. The knot wouldn't be all right."" 



" That, 1 ' I said ruefully, "doesn't matter. Look ! " 



She looked in the direction I had indicated. 

 " Two of the Enemy's gamekeepers," said she ; " and 

 a third coming round the bend in a boat." 



" This," said I, " is a pretty picnic. Hide ! " 



