JANUARY 7 



own boat. When the salmon dashed away, 

 down went the rod until the tip almost 

 touched the water. One of our gillies 

 having mentioned the angler's name, 

 which was that of a man highly re- 

 spected in the craft, I myself was 

 disposed to hold that the fish must 

 be one of exceptional majesty, perhaps a 

 thirty-pounder ; but my host would have 

 none of this. 



" Even if he were forty pounds," said 

 he, "the fellow should keep his rod up. 

 The truth is, he's not a fisher ! " 



The struggle was still raging as long 

 as we could see ; and our diverse theories 

 as to why that was so led to a widening 

 of conflict. Why was neither of ourselves 

 having a run ? 



" It's on accoont o' thae rods," said the 

 elder gillie, William Macfarlane. " Fly- 

 rods ! Ye canna' expec' a fush if ye troll 

 wi' a fly-rod. Ye need a vera stiff rod 

 for trollinV 



My friend was disposed to flout the 

 notion. How did William make that 



