60 A SCOTTISH FLY-FISHER 



upon the issue — as indeed it did. One of them, a 

 fisher of men as well as of trout, was painfully em- 

 barrassed by his riches. Irresolutely, in an aimless, 

 helpless kind of way, he fingered his fly-book, unable 

 to discover the thing he sought. Taking out fly after 

 fly, he examined each carefully a moment, and then 

 replaced it hesitatingly, as if not quite sure that, after 

 all, it might not be the very thing required. Even his 

 final decision was marked by 

 doubt and uncertainty ; he 

 seemed unconvinced of the 

 wisdom of his choice and to 

 be of two minds whether to 

 abide by his resolution or 

 return the flies selected to his book and begin his 

 search anew. 



The other, a person of character, was quite un- 

 troubled by doubts. He knew, with a knowledge that 

 was absolute, knew, perhaps, better than they them- 

 selves what fly the fish desired, and made his choice 

 without a moment's hesitation. He was not of these 

 feeble folk for whom every question has another side, 

 and who waver and vacillate between conflicting 

 opinions, unable to determine which to choose. To 

 him decision was always easy ; he saw but one side, 



