A MAY-FLY DAY 107 



head always pointed in the same direction, up- 

 stream, you know where you are, and keep out 

 of sight by being well below him. " Cruisers " 

 obey no such rules ; they take a few flies in one 

 spot, and then leave it for a cruise, either up or 

 down stream. Generally, they cruise about on a 

 course forming roughly an oval, but you cannot 

 be sure that they will do so. After that preface, 

 let us get to business. 



As I pass down a path in the wood, overgrown 

 with huge dock-leaves and nettles, I see the larger 

 of my two friends of this morning rising steadily 

 in about eight inches of water on the other side 

 of the shallow mill-pool. Down amongst the 

 dock-leaves at once, lest he should see me, and 

 into the water close under the bank, between 

 two trees growing most awkwardly for casting 

 from my side of the stream. A cold sensation, 

 as the water wells in through a hole that must 

 have been made in one of my waders by a sharp 

 nail in a fence I crossed lately ; but such trifles 

 must not count ; it is my only chance. If I 

 hook the fish I cannot follow him along the 

 bank because of the trees, and I know that 

 when not foraging for surface food his home is 

 in a certain deep hole about twenty yards 

 down-stream. All I hope for is that I shall 

 not sink up to the waist in the soft mud collected 



