102 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



glow of light suddenly pervaded the atmosphere. There was a 

 commotion all round me. The hills became dismantled, as if by 

 magic. From the face of that on which I stood floated in rapid 

 succession masses of vapour. Onwards they swept, surging up 

 from the hollows on every side. I had only to turn and watch 

 their retreat towards the far heights, and again to direct my eyes 

 downwards, to be made fully aware of the change which had 

 taken place. It was like dreamland's self. I stood gazing, all 

 at once, from a heath-clad eminence, up a green sun- lit valley, 

 adown which, in full flood, coursed one of Tay's fairest tribu- 

 taries. Bosky braes, knolls crested with tall firs, and hung with 

 hazels, birches, and alder-wood ; ferns, rocks, and pastoral slopes 

 everything, in fact, which helps in a Highland landscape to 

 enchant the eye, lay before me. The change, I need not say, 

 acted like a spell. I was at the river's edge, in the heart of 

 Grlen Lyon, almost at a bound ; and in the course of a few 

 minutes my rod and line were busy at work over the swollen 

 stream. The afternoon was too far advanced, and I was too 

 tired, to command anything extraordinary in the way of sport ; 

 but the fresh supplies from the hills had stirred up the large 

 trout, and encouraged them to feed in the shallows. Owing to 

 this circumstance, I was so far fortunate as to secure several of 

 the magnificoes of the river. In the way to Cushieville. where 

 the inn is situated, I passed Fortingal, the stronghold of the 

 forest, in the old churchyard of which the celebrated yew- 

 patriarch of British trees, which dates from the days of Solomon, 

 survives and flourishes. In 1853 I again dipped line in the river 

 Lyon, but there was no inducement in the way of trout-fishing 

 to ascend it to any height. It has been recommended to my 

 attention, however, as one of the principal lines of diversion 

 selected by the Tay grilse for spawning purposes ; and I have 

 been further informed that in the upper ranges of Glen Lyon, in 



