28 In Pursuit of the Trout 



have used that cast since the preceding spring, 

 when the two friends were angling for the 

 troutlets of delicious Barle. 



Was ever such carelessness ! Nevertheless, 

 the gut had held ; and as for the fish, it was 

 taken back to town wrapped up in news- 

 paper, which the anglers had brought down 

 to glance through in case there should be 

 nothing doing all day. They had not 

 troubled to bring a creel, as the chance of 

 getting anything to put in it on such an 

 uncharitable day seemed remote. It was by 

 far the best fish of the season, though the old 

 angler has since declared that one evening 

 later on he saw and pursued a trout about 

 the same spot, which made him look to 

 and test his cast very carefully indeed. The 

 back stream towards night is the very place 

 for adventures. 



