268 DRY-FLY FISHING 



bank seem simultaneous ; in fact, we can scarcely 

 believe that the trout leaping high in air above 

 the calm water beyond the rush is ours. Neither 

 it is ; it was, but the leap and the consequent 

 easing of the strain have given it a chance to eject 

 the hook, probably merely resting on and not 

 penetrating some hard part of the mouth a chance 

 that a hooked fish never omits to accept. Sadly 

 we recover line and cast, and prepare the flies 

 once more for their work. The quick answer, 

 though it comes to naught, is promising enough. 



There seems to be a lull in the rise, and we almost 

 fear that it is about to end just after it began ; 

 but we proceed quietly upwards, gently casting 

 at a venture to no place in particular, for one spot 

 seems as likely as another, when, without the 

 slightest warning, the Greenwell vanishes from 

 sight. We are given the same tactics as before 

 to answer ; but the hook this time has secured 

 a firm hold and, keeping our eyes on the plung- 

 ing, pulling trout, we manoeuvre cautiously into 

 a position offering good footing, as well as deep 

 water in which to use the net. That instrument 

 is not required yet awhile, for it is a trout of Tweed 

 we have to deal with, an active plucky fighter 

 that knows as much of the art of escaping as it 

 does of the angler's wiles. Out from the rush 

 it must come at all costs, and we refuse to be per- 

 suaded to follow it downstream, therefore we put 

 on all the strain the 4x gut will permit, and steer 

 it into the calm water beside us. The creel duly 

 receives the first trophy of the evening. 



A heavy trout rises ahead, and over it we place 

 without loss of a moment the sedge-fly ; up it 



