APRIL 79 



stump, which was not upright, but 

 leaning over, forming a small cavern, 

 I gradually let the rod droop until the 

 point nearly touched the water and be- 

 tween the top ring and the cast there was 

 not more than a foot of line. It was a 

 trying situation. I was pushing the rod 

 out as far as I could stretch, and the fish 

 was pulling the bent top-piece in. If only 

 "Miss Winsome" had been with me as 

 usual, this strained relation would have 

 been averted. She would have driven 

 the fish from the stump by smiting the 

 water with the landing-net. It is not 

 always prudent to go fishing on the Tay 

 alone. While 1 was engaged in these re- 

 flections, the unexpected happened. If 

 the fish had come in a few inches farther 

 the gut would have been caught among 

 the twigs ; but, to my astonishment, he 

 turned and charged to the other side 

 again. My relief was fleeting. The 

 flush of warmth which had suffused my 

 trembling legs gave way to a cold sweat. 

 He was coming straight back, and that 



