A Contumacious Old Trout 



he was driven to a point verging upon 

 exasperation by a large trout which 

 persisted in rising leisurely from a hole 

 beside an old stump in a pool that had 

 been a favorite of the author's for 

 several years. When its first rise was 

 seen the angler placed over it one of 

 his most attractive wet flies with a 

 feeling of confidence that the trout 

 could not resist it. But resist it he 

 did, not only on the first cast, but on 

 succeeding casts. Then the pool was 

 rested, and another favorite fly was 

 tried with the same result. The trout 

 was still rising occasionally, but paid 

 no attention to the artificial lure; once 

 it arose just as the imitation touched 

 the water and within a few inches 

 of it, apparently entirely unconcerned 

 about the wiles of the angler attempt- 

 ing to lure it to destruction. Again 

 the pool was rested and the trout 



[159] 



