144 AUTUMNS IN ARGYLESHIRE 



water is formed by a little burn running at an 

 angle. From thence there is a deep oily narrow 

 neck for about fifteen yards, with two rocks just 

 projecting at the top, and then it widens, till 

 it joins the shallow below by two channels with 

 a point of gravel between them. I wade in at 

 the top, for, although it is not a long cast, the 

 fish rise right under the hazel and oak-scrub 

 overhanging the opposite side, and the fly plays 

 best with a rather short line. At the second 

 cast there is a sharp tug, and a turn of the 

 reel ; but the water is too shallow just here 

 for a real " fish." Short shrift has my victim ; 

 a nice little silvery sea-trout, of about a pound 

 weight, with every disposition, if permitted, to 

 frolic [and splash about the pool and alarm his 

 betters. If I gave him an inch he would take 

 an ell ; but I do not, and he is lying gasping 

 on the bank before he has had time to be sur- 

 prised at the results of greediness or curiosity. 

 A little lower down the reflection of a white 

 stone shows just through the water, and there 

 I feel a conviction, amounting to certainty, that 

 something better will come, and I am not dis- 

 appointed. There is a curl and a glint of silver, 

 and at the next cast he is fast, and shaking 

 his head, with a slow deliberate movement, 

 from side to side, which denotes that he is 

 lightly hooked, and thinks that he may get rid 

 of his incumbrance without the trouble of a run 



