72 Recreations of a Sportsman 



clearing, six or eight miles square, from the 

 edges of which great deep-green forests of pine, 

 spruce, and fir rose on the slopes of the moun- 

 tains. Where we stood the river skirted the 

 forest, and here and there along the bank were 

 great clumps of brilliant willows around which 

 one walked to come upon the bank about three 

 feet above the water, clear of brush, grass grown 

 an ideal spot for fly-casting. 



In such a pool we began to " wave our 

 feathers " over the waters, and I might add that 

 it is against the moral law here to use more than 

 one fly, or to fish with anything but flies. My 

 companion made a long cast to the opposite 

 bank, allowing his fly to dangle in the air just 

 where the willow r s came down to the water's 

 edge and cast yellow shadows on the deep green, 

 then withdrew it, not allowing it to touch. I 

 followed suit. Again the yellow " Costar " 

 fluttered over the pool, and again, now ten feet 

 down-stream. As it settled on the surface and 

 darted along for a second, a swirl came, and 

 up into the air went a splendid trout, hurling 

 the water aloft; then something rose just below 

 to meet my own fly. Ah, the joy of it! the 

 infinite patience rewarded. 



At last I can cry with Walton, " I am, sir, 

 a brother of the angle," as I have him; I know 

 it by the thrill, the firm response, the dash of 

 the resilient rod, the hiss of the line as it cuts 



