570 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK 



would not lose you even if you were a little fellow of seven 

 inches, instead of a good half-pound. I imbibed that super- 

 stition, not to throw away my first fish, when I was a boy, 

 and have never got rid of it. Now, tumble about as much as 

 you please ; you have the whole basket to yourself. 



Another cast there ought to be more fish there. He rose 

 short, a little longer line three feet more will do it ex- 

 actly so. Gently, my nine-incher ! Take the spring of the rod 

 for a minute or so here you are ! Once more, now. How 

 the "young 'un" jumps ! I'll throw it to him until he learns 

 to catch ; there, he has it. No use reeling in a chap of your 

 size, but come along, hand-over-hand ; I'll release you. Go, 

 now, and don't rise at a fly again until you are over nine 

 inches. 



Not a fly on the water ! So I have nothing to imitate, even 

 if imitation were necessary. Take care! that loose stone 

 almost threw me. I'll work my way across the current, and 

 get under the lee of that boulder, and try each side of the 

 rift where it runs into the pool below the flat rock. Not a 

 fish in the slack water on this side ; they are looking for grub 

 and larvae in the rift. Now, how would you like my coach- 

 man, by way of a change of diet ? There's a chance for you 

 try it. Bosh ! he missed it ; but he is not pricked. Once 

 more. Oh, ho ! is it there you are, my beauty ? Don't tear 

 that dropper off. Hold him tight, O'Shaughnessy ; you are 

 the greatest hook ever invented. How he runs the line out, 

 and plays off into the swift water ! It would be rash to check 

 him now ; but I'll give him a few feet, and edge him over 

 to the side of the rift where there is slack water. That's bet- 

 ter ; now tug away, while I recover some of my line. You 

 are off into the current again, are you? but not so wicked. 

 The click on this reel is too weak, by half he gives in 

 now, and is coming along, like an amiable, docile fish, a,s he 



