154 AUTUMNS IN ARGYLESHIRE 



Ross-shire to find enough water to perform the 

 necessary ablutions after the death of a stag, 

 that the little river where I have fished for over 

 a quarter of a century gave me the best week's 

 sport I have ever experienced. 



On October 13, the morning broke dull, misty, 

 and still, with a little drizzle falling. We had 

 intended to take a walk after wild grouse, but 

 the day was not inviting, and after waiting till 

 about eleven o'clock in the hope of its clearing, 

 I took my trout rod and strolled off to the river 

 rather jeered at by my host ; but, although I 

 had not much hope of sport, I knew that I could 

 amuse myself for an hour or two watching the 

 stream, which I had not seen for more than a 

 year. My mackintosh I left at home a piece 

 of rashness I should not have been guilty of 

 many years ago. A small bag contained my 

 lunch, reel and fly-book, and a net and gaff to 

 screw into my landing-handle, while its outer 

 partition seemed likely to be more than large 

 enough for anything I might have to bring 

 home. A light, but fairly stiff, split cane trout 

 rod completed my equipment, and three-quarters 

 of an hour later I was crossing the foot-bridge 

 over the river ; and as I looked upon and 

 through the glassy surface, and counted the 

 stones below, I felt that there was only one 

 place which I could try with any chance of 

 success. Most of the lower water is guarded 



