THE FIRST RISE. 17 



vokiogly, continue calm and smooth as a polished 

 mirror, the only breeze being athwart the river, which 

 it was prevented from ruffling by the height of the 

 banks. Our only chance, therefore, was to follow the 

 course of the stream, in the .hopes that among .its 

 various windings some corner might be found where 

 there was the much wished-for ripple. Accordingly, 

 displaying our fly-books to the experienced eye of 

 Donald, we each put our rods together, took the fly his 

 judgment selected, and began our attempts on the 

 finny tenants of the water. 



" Long did we strive the obdurate foe to gain ; " 



but long, long also we " strove in vain." At length, 

 however, our patience was rewarded ; the wind 

 chopped round, so as to blow directly up the stream, 

 and cheered our flagging spirits with a most enchanting 

 little ripple. 



The part of the river which we were to fish consisted 

 of a succession of deep dark pools, worn into the peat 

 soil ; and Donald assured us that after very heavy rains 

 there was a " graund " current, and that, consequently, 

 at such times there " wasna bonnier feeing in a' 

 Scautland ; " but the late rains had not been heavy 

 enough to produce that much-desired state, and the 

 nearest approach to the appearance of a current was a 

 slight runnel at the head of each pool. Walter took 

 the lowest pool, while I was to proceed upwards, pro- 

 mising to keep within a short distance, that Donald 

 might be available to assist either of us. 



Scarcely had we separated, when Walter rose a fine 

 " fesh." Donald and I were too late to see anything 

 but the curl on the waiter, caused by his unsuccessful 

 lunge after the fly. The " fesh," however, was not 

 pricked, and we left Walter in a state of nervous hope 

 that he would return to the charge. 



