286 DRY-FLY FISHING 



glided lonely about his ancient mate was on the 

 island seriously occupied imagining a vain thing 

 and playful coots indulged in their t merry antics. 

 Even the topmost twigs of the trees remained 

 motionless, and long clean-cut shadows were thrown 

 across the loch. The absence of wind helped to 

 make more clear the unfortunate state of the water ; 

 great patches of weed were dotted all over the 

 surface, and to them clung foul, decaying green 

 accumulations, of which smaller clumps, not yet 

 having found an anchorage, floated all around. 



We had therefore little cause to become filled 

 with enthusiasm. Still in the fading light trout 

 sometimes, generally in fact, prove not altogether 

 indifferent to our offerings. We always hope for 

 the best, and we had come to fish. Consequently 

 it was useless to remain idle on the bank. We 

 mounted the rods, boarded the boat, and the keeper 

 pushed off. Now and then a slight zephyr came out 

 of the East, raising a tiny ripple, but no sooner it 

 came than it died away. Drifting being impractic- 

 able, the boat was worked backwards and forwards, 

 gradually approaching ever nearer to what from a 

 distance appeared to be an impenetrable maze of 

 weeds. 



Occasionally a fish would rise in half-hearted 

 fashion, though never within casting distance ; the 

 sun still blazed, and we wearied for its setting ; the 

 floating fly seemed to be the lure that would produce 

 a rise, but it entirely failed. It was evident that 

 there had been a strong hatch of the pale watery 

 dun earlier in the day, as now the surface was most 

 liberally besprinkled with the spent spinners lying 

 motionless with outspread wings. Here was a feast 



