170 LEAVES FEOM A GAME BOOK. 



and during the autumn numbers of these fish came up 

 into the loch to spawn. 



For more than a mile I wandered on in the same 

 happy spirit of contentment, when suddenly all feelings 

 of that sort were scattered to the winds by the sight 

 of a fine bright salmon leaping high into the air. 

 I sat down on the bank of the pool to watch, when 

 again and again he came to the surface — a twenty- 

 pounder I was well-nigh sure, for at times he sprang 

 far out of water to show his goodly proportions, 

 though more, often he sent those great oily swirls 

 around him as he made those quiet head and tail rises 

 which are maddening for a fisherman to witness unless 

 with rod in hand. 



" Bother it," said I to myself, " he would be 

 absolutely certain to take the very first fly that came 

 over him." Then, dear reader, with sorrow I confess 

 it, there entered my head the wicked idea of having 

 a try for him that very afternoon ; thus, although it 

 was the Sabbath, I jumped to my feet and hastened 

 home, bent on putting my profane thought into 



