DIES PISCATORl^E. 569 



put on a good sized coachman with lead-colored wings, and 

 as soon as I get a few handsful of grass, to throw in the 

 bottom of my creel, I'll button on my landing-net and cross 

 over, with the help of this stick of drift-wood, for it is pretty 

 strong wading just here. Do you see that rift, and the flat 

 rock at the lower end of it which just comes above the sur- 

 face of the water, and divides the stream as it rushes into the 

 pool below ? There's fishing in rift and pool both ; so I'll 

 begin at the top of the rift, if I can get through these alders. 

 Go in, my little rod, point foremost ; I would not break that 

 tip at this time to save the hair on my head ; hold ! that 

 twig has caught my dropper easy, now, all clear through 

 the bushes at last. 



When I was here last July, and fished the pool below, there 

 was no rift above, the water hardly came above my ankles ; 

 now it is knee-deep ; if there was less it would be better for the 

 pool ; but it makes two casts now, where there was only one 

 last summer, and I have no doubt there is a pretty fellow by 

 the margin of the strong water, on this side of the rock, an 

 easy cast, too, just about eight yards from the end of my 

 tip. Not there a little nearer the rock. What a swirl ! He 

 did not show more than his back ; but he has my hackle. I 

 had to strike him, too, for he took it under water like a bait 

 they will do so when the stream is full. Get out of that cur- 

 rent, my hearty, and don't be flouncing on top, but keep un- 

 derneath, and deport yourself like an honest, fair fighter! 

 There you are, now, in slack water ; you can't last long, tug- 

 ging at this rate ; so come along, to my landing-net ; it's no 

 use shaking your head at me ! What a shame to thrust my 

 thumb under that rosy gill ! but there is no help for it, for 

 you might give me the slip as I take the hook out of your 

 mouth, and thrust you, tail-foremost, into the hole of my creel. 

 You are my first fish, and you know you are my luck ; so I 



