116 THE SPEY. 



bathed himself once more in the virgin waters of 

 his own loved native Spey. What dismay must 

 have travelled in his wake, what scrambling 

 among par and smolts and larger fry, rushing to 

 their hiding places, what sly peeping from under 

 large and little stones and shady banks, as the 

 mighty apparition fat, firm, and 40 Ibs (every 

 ounce of it, no doubt) glided majestically by. 

 Pity that that accomplished veteran angler who, 

 some time ago, hooked and landed a 26-pounder 

 in these waters, did not engage him in the fray. 

 Such a capture would be worth chronicling. 

 Darting at the gaudy insect, his majesty of the 

 flood would soon learn that a poor, harmless 

 looking fly carried yet a very wicked sting in 

 its tail ; but, not wishing to drown the poor 

 ephemeral, although it stung him, Mr Salmon 

 would leap with it high above the water, intend- 

 ing to let it there fly out of his mouth, but it 

 wouldn't go, and this feat would reveal to him, 

 oh, horror ! that a strange land animal had him 

 in tow. Once, twice, and again, in quick suc- 

 cession, would he bound above the flood, pro- 

 bably to take the measure of his man, then, 

 turning his nose down the stream, he would run 

 as fast as his fins could carry him and the land- 



