Fly-Fifliing. 93 



was near this fpot that I had fucceeded in hooking 

 a trout that had baffled me a few hours before in 

 the morning. Directly he was hooked, he made 

 for a large ftubb that lay very convenient for him 

 in the middle of the ftream. Thinking of nothing 

 at the time but the beft way of preventing him 

 from carrying out his intention, I held him with a 

 very fhort line, and kept gradually drawing back 

 when lo ! all at once, I reeled and fell backwards 

 into the water. What a glorious fight for the de- 

 lighted fim to witnefs ! It was a wonder they did 

 not rum at their enemy mark-like. 



The ftartled fifh bewilder'd ran, 



They darted to and fro, 

 When with a plunge the fifherman 



Came tumbling down below 

 So large a bait, as fure as Fate, 



Muft be a deadly foe. 



With curious large round eyes they ftare, 



And firft due diftance keep, 

 Then take him for fome monfter fifh, 



Amazed at fuch a leap ! 

 And fome would choofe to aflc what news 



He brings from the far deep ? 



Then bolder by degrees they grow 



Nearer and nearer fteal, 

 And make their quivering tails and fins, 



His dubious fides to feel 



