86 CATCHING THE WILY SEA-TROUT 



He asked innumerable questions regarding the course 

 of the river, and I was glad to supply him with plenty 

 of information, including a rough diagram of the water 

 showing the localities of the best pools. He was most 

 grateful to me and confided in me that he could throw a 

 longer line than could his father, with whom, on Saturdays 

 in the winter months, he went spinning for pike. 



On the following morning the exuberant young man 

 could scarcely wait to finish his breakfast, as he was in 

 such a desperate hurry to be off with his rod, and he was 

 well clear of the inn soon after nine o'clock. 



As I was otherwise engaged my fishing was neglected 

 that morning, but at noon I decided to go for a stroll 

 along the river bank and see how the water was fining. 

 After journeying for about half a mile upstream I met 

 the young enthusiast returning. His appearance was 

 very dejected, and to my query as to how he had fared, 

 he replied, " Had beastly bad luck/' 



I turned back with him, and I will let him tell his own 

 story. " I thought that I would try some of the far 

 pools that you mentioned, so I hurried down here, and 

 for the next two miles padded through swamp and 

 jungle. My, the going was hard ! All the way I didn't 

 see a decent place to throw a line, and I never met a 

 soul. Then I came to a clearing and a topping open 

 pool. I'll bet it is full of sea-trout." 



It is, as it is the best holding pool in the river. The 

 near side ends in a strip of shingle, while the far side, 

 which never carries less than eight feet of water, is 

 bordered by an impenetrable mass of undergrowth and 

 overhanging trees. 



" Well, when I saw the pool I knew that my dream 

 had come true. I had a good look around, and picked 

 a nice spot from where to throw. I don't know how it 

 happened, but my first cast landed the minnow right 



