50 The Autocrat of the Eddy. 



autocrat of the eddy. Next I found in 

 the moss a cri'mson newt that looked 

 delicious enough for anybody to bite, and 

 when the hook was carefully passed 

 through a small fold of skin, so as not to 

 hurt much, he was tossed over into the 

 pool. Around and around in little circles 

 the newt swam, and deeper and deeper, 

 until there was only a faint red wriggle to 

 be seen way down by the shelf of the 

 rock. Suddenly a vigorous tug whisked 

 the tip of the rod under water, the reel 

 gave a scream, and then all was quiet 

 again ; but I could feel the old fellow's 

 teeth grating on the tense line as he sul- 

 lenly moved his head from side to side. 

 Every instant I expected a rush up stream, 

 and a tumbling wrestle in the swift water 

 above the eddy, but still there was omi- 

 nous quiet. There I stood all ready for 

 action, the tip of the rod curved over and 

 almost dipping into the water, the line 

 drawn as tightly as a banjo string and 

 leading straight down into the depths of 

 the slow current. Gradually reeling in 

 the line, the trout came heavily to the sur- 



