THE FIRST RISE. 5 



look with indifference on the most brilliant fly the 

 angler can produce ; and to-day the river would, most 

 provokingly, 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 fleshing 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 water, caused by his unsuccessful 



