AND HOW I HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 235 



stream, which you must permit him to do. Then 

 you go up the ladder with rod in right hand and 

 winch free, but with the check on, and scramble as 

 best you can down the rugged sloping side of the 

 rock to the music of your winch caused by the 

 speed of the fish as he makes over the shallows for 

 the next pool. 



When you lose touch of your fish, as you will do 

 more than once while descending to the level of 

 the stream, get on him again quickly with raised 

 top, so as to keep your line free from the jutting 

 rocks and high stones. Should you be in time, try 

 to guide him to the centre, and be quickly up and 

 over the twelve feet of rock that still bars your 

 passage immediately in front. When once over 

 this, the last obstruction, without mishap, your 

 course is clear to the Cairn Pool, where you can 

 finish your pleasure, and take a breath or two. 



LONG-LADDER POOL. 



The wall that safely encloses the road from the 

 precipitous rocks is the one that I have so often 

 gone over to peep down on the fish in the deep 

 water below. The ladder is necessary to the 

 getting down to the river with comfort, not to say 

 dignity. 



Your gillie, possibly, and nimble Hugh Mac- 

 Lennan, certainly, will dig their heels in and walk 

 down, and then look back, wondering why you 



