172 AUTUMNS IN AEGYLESHIRE 



place for fish, with a stream at the top ending 

 in a deep round pool at the bottom. There is 

 an iron railing and a ditch to get over to take 

 me to the gravelly bank at the top, and, as it is 

 lunch-time, I choose a sheltered spot under the 

 bank at the bottom, where I leave my boy to 

 unpack and begin his meal, while I go up and 

 fish the stream over for the first time ; but he 

 has not got beyond the stage of taking out the 

 paper parcels and untying the strings when 

 there is another whir of the reel, and a nice 

 little fish is dashing down stream attached (firmly, 

 I hope, this time) to the tail-fly, which bears 

 the seductive name of " the Captain." Cake, 

 egg-sandwiches, and cold grouse are flung down 

 at the first sound of the reel, and Alfred comes 

 tearing up with Punch at his heels. The fish 

 runs well, and is soon sufficiently exhausted to 

 bring up to the gaff; but this time the land- 

 ing is the most serious matter of difficulty. I 

 have said that my boy gaffed his first salmon 

 yesterday, and did it well ; but then he had not 

 been worked into a state of excitement by seeing 

 two fish lost. His first attempt is too slow, 

 and with the second he gaffs the casting-line, 

 when if the fish had not been thoroughly ex- 

 hausted, he would have bidden us farewell ; but 

 there is luck in odd numbers, and at the third 

 try the point goes home, and a nice little grilse 

 is deposited on the stones. He is soon weighed 



