230 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



grilse only can do, until he got my line jammed and 

 departed with my fly. I put another on, and imme- 

 diately hooked another grilse, which I killed ; then 

 another, which I lost (taking my fly along with him). 

 In that insignificant pool 1 hooked seven fish, only 

 killing two, all the others, except one, carrying away a 

 good fly of more value than the fish. I lost more flies 

 then in that pool than in the whole river besides in 

 that season. I never can understand how it happened. 

 I suspect there must have been a tree root in the 

 bottom. 



The river was altogether in an odd state that day ; 

 the fish were all collected in the highest and lowest 

 pools. 



The events of the day, however, were not yet ended. 

 About four o'clock I rolled up my line and walked 

 direct for Loch Dartion, where I again commenced 

 operations. Gillespie, who accompanied me all day, 

 and took very little interest in fishing, had picked up 

 the eagle ; and now, seated beside a large stone, with 

 his glass across his gun barrel, began examining the 

 side of the hill above us. All at once I noticed his 

 eye brighten ; down came the glass, which he shut with 

 a bang, as he stalked up to me, evidently full of some- 

 thing. At last out it came ; there were twelve stags 

 within a mile of us. He pointed out the spot, and I 

 could see them with the naked eye, as they rose one 

 by one from their bed of long heather, and were 

 stepping downwards slowly, eating as they advanced. 

 Gillespie pointed out a pass through which they must 

 go if disturbed from below, and tried to prevail on me 

 to go there and have a shot ; but he had no ball, so I 

 would not go, but as I wanted a deer for the larder, I 

 allowed him to go and have a try. Away he went with 

 a will, as might be seen by his jog trot, through the 



