He now draws forth ids "book of flies, and after selecting 

 a foot-length to which three likely flies are attached 

 to wit, for the stretcher a good, heavy, red-ended "bee, to 

 make the line carry well out; for the lower dropper a 

 cockchafer, and for the upper, a very fine grey mo th 

 he loops it to his line. Being resolved not to attempt 

 throwing far at first, he only lets about nine yards 

 of line off, and waving his rod with a graceful turn of 

 the arm, he meditates a throw ; and now, away the line 

 goes ! No, not exactly yet ; for the "bee has "been so well 

 counterfeited that it appears to have "been attracted "by 

 the flower of the thistle to whose stalk it is sticking so 

 fast. The "bee is now disengaged from the thistle, "but 

 the moth shows a partiality for "broad-cloth, and ad- 

 heres most pertinaciously to the collar of the gentle- 

 man's coat, which he is obliged to put off "before he can 

 free himself from the annoying insect But he has pro- 

 fited already from experience, and discovered that the 

 surest mode of throwing out the line straight "before 

 you, is first to lay it on the ground straight "behind, and 

 then, taking your rod in "both hands, and holding it 

 directly over your right shoulder, deliver the flies right 

 in front, "by a sort of over-head stroke. After this fashion 

 does he make his first cast, and swash go the flies into 

 the water, as if a trio of wild ducks had stooped there 

 in full flight; and had there "been a trout near, he 

 most surely would have been killed- with fright. For 

 an hour he continues his unsuccessful practice ; but 

 consoles himself with the thought that he will have 

 the more to take next day. Next day comes, another 



