22 A SCOTTISH FLY-FISHER 



presence of milk in it — but by noon the rain had ceased, 

 and during the remainder of the day, except when some 

 great white cloud, sweeping athwart the azure spaces 

 of the sky, obscured his rays, the sun smiled down 

 encouragement upon our efforts. It was a day on 

 which all things combined to promote the pleasure of 

 the angler. It was delightfully warm ; the light was 

 favourable — since I was successful ; and the wind, 

 though too high for perfect comfort, blew straight up 

 the rock-encumbered cleugh through which the little 

 burn ran gaily singing on its way to union with the 

 classic Tweed. 



I have had days of larger gains, of heavier fish and 

 fish in greater numbers, but I can recall no day more 

 bright, more full of joy than that. It held no small 

 exasperations ; not once was I caught up or placed in 

 a position of the slightest difficulty. I met with no 

 disappointments ; I was aware of the utmost possi- 

 bilities of the puny stream, and the modest hope in 

 which I had approached it in the morning was more 

 than fulfilled when, at the close of day, I took down 

 my rod and reluctantly prepared to leave its banks. I 

 fished, too, with a detachment of mind, an interest in 

 the moment, in what I was doing rather than in what 

 I had done or might yet do, that was quite unusual. 



