ii THE INVIOLABLE SHADE 27 



I was nursing, as it was early in the morn- 

 ing. The circumstance, however, prevented 

 me from catching anything, for the fish in 

 question kept me busily employed all day. 

 I now lacked twenty-four and a half brace, 

 and the Wickham refused to help me any 

 more. 



The sixth day saw another grayling in 

 the basket. He was caught by accident, 

 for he took the olive that was meant for a 

 rising trout. The seventh day was some- 

 what notable. On that day the grayling a 

 yard long rose at a black gnat which I 

 offered him. I missed him, of course, and 

 the week ended with a deficit of thirty-four 

 brace. 



In the evening of the seventh day I had 

 an argument with the unconquerable hope. 

 " If," it said, " you stay here long enough 

 you will get another rise out of that yard- 

 long grayling, and you may catch him." It 

 added also, that grayling are well known to 

 be uncertain fish. It was possible that 

 any day might find them feeding madly. I 

 should be sorry to have missed the carnival. 

 I gave way, and decided to give them 

 another week, and then the gales began. 



