COSTA. 47 



instance was ineffective, but a claret bumble 

 proved the feeder's undoing, and another 

 purple fin was added to the basket, in- 

 creasing the weight thereof by i^ Ib. The 

 wind was now responsible for a startling 

 surprise. *By degrees it had been gaining 

 strength, and casting was difficult and 

 gloriously uncertain. In an attempt to get the 

 fly over a fish on the opposite side a sudden 

 gust took it and sent it back close in under 

 our bank, and before I realised what had. 

 happened, rny companion was hurrying down 

 stream in the wake of a tight line. Presently 

 he turned, and I saw heading towards rne, 

 just below the surface, a grayling, every 

 ounce a two -and -a -half pounder, with a back, 

 fin like the sail of a Chinese junk. Now up r 

 now down, then across ; one moment at the 

 side, the next, .out again into the centre of the 

 river, went the fish in his endeavours to free 

 himself from the unwelcome attentions of the 

 tiny bit of feather, which, despite all his efforts y 

 would not leave him. For me, who could only 



