Lines. 77 



you bent that leader to the line. You see it's entirely- 

 gone." 



" I think not, sir," came the quiet answer. 



" Well, how else could such a disgusting thing happen ? 

 You know the leader was tested not an hour ago. It was 

 wet then, and was fastened to the line immediately after- 

 wards, so the loop could not have been cracked or weak, 

 and the break must have been there." 



" Perhaps something may be wrong about the line." 



"Nonsense; the line is brand-new never through the 

 rings before. Take off that other leader from your hat 

 and put it on the line ; give me a Montreal stretcher 

 and a brown hackle for a dropper. There let me look 

 at that knot. Yes, that's all right; I don't believe they 

 will get away with that in a hurry. Perhaps we may 

 sicken some of them yet." For your true fisherman al- 

 ways regards the fish who carries away his tackle as the 

 Englishman looks on the restlessness of his uncivilized 

 subjects as a monstrous ingratitude, to be atoned for 

 by the offender if catchable ; if not, by his kindred. 



Human nature is not altogether confined to the British 

 Isles ; a small surplus still remains for the use of the 

 American angling fraternity. We generally see things 

 through our own eyes, even though we do wear specta- 

 cles. 



Cast follows cast a rise a strike and back comes 

 the line once more, but no leader follows it. 



When feeling is too deep for utterance, one is general- 

 ly silent. The line is reeled in and examined. The knot 

 was certainly all right ; the fault could not be in the 

 leader. The line alone remains ; and though it is folly 

 to try it since it is perfectly new, still to silence John 

 once for all, let us test it. Throughout its whole length 



