134 AN ANGLER'S HOURS vni 



at least, was how it seemed to the man; 

 the brambles might conceivably have retorted 

 with comments on his inaccurate casting. But 

 this insufficient stream held a marvellous 

 stock of little trout, and almost every time 

 the fly touched the water an impudent fish 

 of, approximately, half an ounce would 

 hastily appropriate it. But no more big 

 ones were seen or felt until the next pool 

 was reached. 



This pool was surrounded completely by 

 briars, and only about a yard of water was 

 visible at all. However, the angler flicked 

 the fly over the wall of leaves, and stood on 

 tiptoe to observe the result. There was a 

 rise immediately, and a good fish took the 

 fly firmly away under the thickest bush 

 before its owner could interfere. Justly 

 annoyed, the angler applied pressure, and 

 then the Pierhaven rod lost heart about the 

 business, and said so with ominous crack- 

 ings ; no half-guinea fly-rod yet built could 

 be expected to pull a half-pound trout out 

 of a bush. The angler anathematised Pier- 

 haven, and desisted. An attempt to pull 

 the fish out by grasping the line failed, 

 and the fly was lost. Then the rod was 



