170 AUTUMNS IN ARGYLESHIRE 



calculate his weight at between eight and nine 

 pounds. As he shows, Alfred dashes to the side 

 and madly dances after him in his rushes, heed- 

 less of my shouts that, if he will keep quiet, I 

 will bring the salmon up to him ; but it is not 

 to be this time. The fish dashes out of the pool 

 into the stream below, and, without the least 

 preliminary warning, the rod straightens. The 

 hold has given way! A breathless gasp from 

 each of us, and the tears almost rise into my 

 small boy's eyes ; but when he sees the disgust 

 expressed upon my countenance which, in self- 

 defence, I must assert to be more for his sake 

 than my own he remembers his first duty as 

 consoler, and, fumbling in his pocket for some 

 propitiatory offering, says, " Never mind, father ; 

 take a nut." 



Solvuntur risu tdbulce. The consolation has 

 come, although perhaps it is not the half-ripe 

 nut that has done it ; and, hoping for better 

 luck next time, we move on to the Stance pool, 

 where the stream sweeps round a bend of the 

 river near the road, ending in a wide stretch, 

 with deep water under the opposite bank. Half- 

 way down a small sea-trout takes the dropper 

 and speedily finds his way into the landing-net ; 

 and just a few yards before the end, there is 

 another swirl in the water, and the line is tight 

 and the reel again in motion. But it is only for 

 a few seconds. There is something in the feel 



