218 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



good fortune was not destined to cease here, and 

 we had soon the further gratification of shewing the 

 rod-butt to three prime grilses and one salmon, 

 which latter was anchored on by myself in midst of 1 

 a perilous eddy, out of which I found it no easy 

 task to force him, and prevent the cutting of my 

 line on certain sharp-toothed rocks which lay in the 

 direction he aimed at. Luckily, however, my tackle 

 was not deficient in strength, and on putting it 

 resolutely to the test, I was able to effect the wished 

 for control over my fish, and ere long to gaff and 

 secure him. I will not, however, detain you with 

 any further mention of our angling exploits in this 

 quarter. Zealous craftsmen as we were, our appetite 

 for sport became strangely impaired by the want 

 of those scenic attractions, which operate like sun- 

 shine on the heart, and keep the springs of joy 

 open within it. The savage desolateness of the 

 surrounding moorland had greatly lowered our 

 spirits, and we shrunk away, after a week's residence 

 at Fort- William, like guilty things that had busied 

 ourselves with butcheries, not of fish, but of our 

 fellows. 



The next scene of our achievements (continued 

 Mr Wandle-weir) was Loch Ness. Hiring a boat 

 early on the morning after our arrival at Fort- 

 Augustus, we beat up and down both sides of this 

 beautiful expanse of water, without so much as 

 stirring a single fin until the approach of noon, 



