MEMORIES OF EARLY DAYS 269 



extraordinary variety of water. The river was 

 full of pike, and it was said, probably with 

 truth, that the inhabitants of the district forked 

 trout out of the weeds in low water with various 

 agricultural implements. But there were trout 

 enough for dry fly fishing. Half-a-dozen or so 

 might be found rising near together, and then 

 perhaps one would have to go several hundred 

 yards before another one was found ; a little 

 sound would be heard presently, as if a small 

 pebble had dropped in somewhere without a 

 splash, and heard perhaps two or three times 

 before the rise could be seen in such a large and 

 curious river. Then there was a difficult stalk, 

 probably through water and weeds, with the 

 chance of going overhead into a big hole un- 

 awares. 



I was warned that at this season of the year, 

 when the water was low, I must not expect to 

 catch any of these fish, but I cared nothing for 

 warnings. The trout were there, and were rising, 

 and though I saw at once that it was a case 

 for dry fly and for that only, I had by this time 

 been taught to believe that any one, who could 

 catch Winchester trout, could catch rising trout 



