106 BY MEADOW AND STREAM. 



We returned rather disconsolately to where we had 

 left "Red Spinner." There he was, still plying at 

 "the Shoulder of Mutton," and the Major was not 

 far off. Between two and four o'clock the "R. S." 

 had bagged five brace of splendid grayling, without 

 moving from the enchanted corner. The Major, 

 who only arrived on the scene when the rise for the 

 day was almost over, bagged three brace of the 

 biggest sort. Of course, I allow something for skill 

 to these accomplished craftsmen, but in this particular 

 instance I attribute quite as much to luck. I have the 

 presumption to think that had the "A. A." taken 

 " Red Spinner's " place, and sent him down to those 

 other good places, our baskets would have been mare 

 equally weighted. I have constantly" averred that 

 there is pleasure in fishing, quite apart from catching 

 fish, and not the least of it is to see that your friends 

 have, by luck or skill, been satisfied with their after- 

 noon's work. 



We dine at our old farmhouse in a primitive fashion, 

 but luxuriously enough, and then we sit round a bright 

 logwood fire, which our Professor allows no one to 

 touch but himself, for he has a notion that no one but 

 he can place the logs in the exact position they ought 

 to be in. The ' ' Spinner " spins many a yarn of his early 

 and varied experiences, and the Professor causes mirth 

 by his drolleries and his self-assertive, dogmatic, and 

 pessimistic views about the country in general, which 

 he vows is going rapidly to the dogs. He imports his 

 own whisky in cask direct from the distillery of Glen- 

 livet, and maintains that he makes a clear profit of 

 twenty per cent, on every glass he drinks. On being 



