PLEASURES OF ANGLING. 121 



lengthened and swept gracefully across the current 

 of the pool. Foot by foot he worked his way to 

 the objective point, where rested what he coveted 

 more than the verdict of judge or jury. And now, 

 at last, the fly drops gently upon the glistening 

 surface of the dark water, just at the point desired, 

 when there followed a rush and strike, and a 

 momentary pause, as if fish and fisher were alike 

 astounded, and then click, whiz, whir-r-r went the 

 reel, as if harnessed to a lightning train with a 

 thunderbolt for a locomotive. Away went the fish 

 with two hundred feet of line, but stopping at 

 that distance as suddenly as if arrested by a pe- 

 remptory order of the court. Then came the tug 

 of war ; first to hold him that required muscle ; 

 then to bear with him while he sulked that 

 required patience. The Judge had both, and both 

 were brought into skilful requisition. For ten 

 minutes not a fin stirred; but the taut line, as 

 it resisted the combined pressure of the current 

 and the fish, thrummed like an seolian harp, and 

 made every nerve tingle with delight. As became 

 the watchful angler that he is, the eyes of the 

 Judge were immovably fixed upon his line as it 

 stretched out straight before him. He believed 

 the fish near the opposite bank in a direct line with 

 his rod, and he was looking intently for some sign 

 of life from the spot where he supposed his fish 



16 



