354 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



twice saw its paired neighbour feeding in mid-stream ; and 

 whenever I had cut the hook from the dead fish's jaw, I 

 offered it to the lively relict in the pool. It came at once, 

 but hooked so tenderly that one dash parted the slight 

 catch. 



Although I did not land a fish, the final day of the Lyon 

 has left as pleasing reminiscences as any of its predecessors. 

 A balmy morning and dry road tempted me to steal " cannily " 

 up the glen on foot, more to enjoy a peaceful farewell of the 

 now familiar river, than with much hope of hooking a fish in 

 water so thin and clear. 



When I sauntered down to the first pool, I found Chest- 

 hill's fisherman giving it the finishing touches ; and he told 

 me that another well-known Lyon angler had had " his wull 

 o't " shortly before, but nothing had moved to either of them. 

 The tiny state of the river was warrant enough for " ill luck," 

 and I had turned away to seek some of the deeper linns which 

 might not have been already raked, when the man begged me 

 to try this pool once more. " Three times was canny," and 

 although they had " dune naething, he would like weel to see't 

 cuisten ower by me." 



To please him, I put on my lightest tackle and threw right 

 across to the farther side with a long and even sweep. Near 

 the tail of the pool the heaviest water runs close to the op- 

 posite bank. This was the critical bit, as both the fisherman 

 and I knew full well. To fish it properly required a most 

 powerful throw ; and yet, from the still, clear state of the 

 water, the fly ought to fall like gossamer. At the second at- 

 tempt of this difficult cast, a large red-tinged salmon fearlessly 

 came and hooked. Quickly shortening the line by getting op- 

 posite his head, I thought I had my captive safe, when he 

 suddenly vaulted a foot clear of the river and shook himself 

 free. A spectator and witness is a comfort when a heavy fish 

 breaks its hold, perhaps not when it breaks the casting-line ! 

 Moved two more salmon in the long pool below the blind 



