AND ANGLING SONGS. 39 



up to the pool superintending the cruives, and having attached 

 a small but showy fly to nay casting-line, directed it across to 

 what, I had an idea, was likely ground for a good fish. Imme- 

 diately I had him fast a beautiful grilse, fresh from the sea, the 

 monoculus attached to his pate and shoulders. Its death-blow 

 dealt, I pushed up the stream, and quickly captured a brace of 

 sea-trout. I also raised a large fish, and was on the point of 

 giving him a change of fly, when the plunge of a salmon fifty 

 yards or so farther up arrested my attention. Marking with 

 the eye the spot where it took place, and considering it judi- 

 cious to allow the fish I had just raised a short rest, I scrambled 

 along the face of a precipitous bank towards a convenient ledge 

 of turf and rock, whence I could command the upper portion of 

 the cast. A few throws brought my fly beautifully round over 

 the place in question, and up, in taking style, came the salmon, 

 every inch of his length visible on the surface, and his strong 

 jaws closing eagerly upon the fatal lure. For an instant he 

 remained immovable, but the hook was firmly lodged in his 

 gristly lip, and I held bent over him a powerful rod, steadily but 

 not determinedly ; for at length, as he became conscious of his 

 position, and dashed across the river, taking its whole breadth 

 at a single breath, I felt it high time to humour his movements, 

 and gave line to his heart's desire. The first burst over, and 

 line partially recovered, I had to make immediate preparations 

 for a second, perhaps more vigorous one. The fish evidently 

 showed an inclination to press downwards ; and to follow him, 

 in case he did so, seemed for the moment impracticable, as I had 

 to wend my way along the foot of a precipitous scaur overhang- 

 ing a deep, black pool. Other hazards also presented them- 

 selves in the shape of trees or brushwood, across the stunted 

 stems of which I had to pass my rod from hand to hand. There 

 was no time, however, to be lost, so after overcoming the last- 

 mentioned but primary difficulty, I committed myself to the 



