62 AN ANGLER'S LINES. 



gale roars in thunderous diapason amongst the 

 trees. A fish is found just under the far bank, 

 but almost immediately a sagging line tells the 

 tale of " gone away." The fly here forms a 

 strong attachment for a blade of grass over- 

 hanging the water at the bottom of a steep 

 bank. I volunteer to free it, and, with no 

 small labour, partly scramble, partly slide, 

 down the declivity. After groping about for 

 some time without being able to discover the 

 " insect," I am hailed by the D.F.E. with an 

 inquiry what I am " grovelling down there 

 for? " With yet more labour and many back 

 slidings, I climb up again, and am coolly told 

 that a sudden jerk had long ago effected a 

 divorce, whereupon I find it necessary to make 

 a few suitable, but pointed, remarks. Into a 

 hole at the bend of the river the Alexandra is 

 sent on its mission. .When next seen, it is fast 

 in the mouth of a grayling that is subse- 

 quently found to scale i Ib. 2 oz. Further 

 on, in a long stretch of water, where the wind 

 holds high carnival, the peacock feather 



