80 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



rod and line, but my rod and line to the hook. I 

 next proceeded to the pigeon-house, and picking 

 some coarse feathers, made what I alone in the 

 wide world would have thought it becoming to 

 have called a fly ; but call it so I did, in spite 

 of contradictory evidence. Thus equipped, I pro- 

 ceeded to try my skill ; but exert myself as I 

 would, the line had domestic qualities, and was 

 resolved to stay at home. I never could get it 

 fairly away from the hazel sticks ; therefore it was 

 that I hooked no fish. But I hooked myself three 

 times : once in the knee-strings of my shorts, once 

 in the nostril, and again in the lobe of the ear. At 

 length, after sundry days of fruitless effort, like an 

 infant Belial, I attempted that by guile which I 

 could not do by force ; and dropping the fly with 

 my hand under a steep bank of the stream, I 

 walked up and down trailing it along : after about 

 a week's perseverance, I actually caught a trout. 

 Shade of Izaak Walton, what a triumph was there ! 

 That day I could not eat, that night I slept not. 

 Even now I recollect the spot where that generous 

 fish devoted himself. 



As I grew up I became gradually more expert, 

 and at length saved money sufficient to buy a real 

 fishing rod, line, reel and all, quite complete. 

 Down it came from London resplendent with 

 varnish, and many cunning feats did I perform with 

 it. About this time I learned to shoot ; not that I 

 was strong enough to hold a gun, but that the keeper 

 put the said implement to his shoulder, when I took 

 aim at larks and sparrows, and those sort of things, 

 and pulled the trigger. So I waxed in years and 



