60 In Pursuit of the Trout 



is a fellow always to tell what it is that has 

 made the disturbance in the waters when he 

 has not seen it ? 



Sometimes he would not hook anything at 

 all, not even the bank nor his own coat, nor 

 the seat of a friend's breeks, in which case, 

 being a thoughtful and intelHgent man, with 

 entomological leanings, he would come to 

 the conclusion that he had not got hold of 

 the right kind of fly for that particular day and 

 weather. Two courses lay open to him, the 

 first being to catch one of the insects flying 

 about in the air, and the second to seek for 

 information amongst the various other anglers 

 who were engaged in fishing the stream 

 within reasonable reach. He commonly re- 

 sorted to the second expedient if there were 

 any anglers nigh to question, and the words, 

 ' What fly are they taking ? ' used to be fear- 

 fully familiar to those among his friends who 

 did not give him a wide berth out fishing. 



There was certainly no aloofness about the 

 man, for, with the most perfect frankness 

 and good-nature, he would constantly come 



