160 MOSTLY ABOUT TROUT 



they are sure to be up soon. There's a rise ! 

 There's another ! There are two more, all 

 within a few yards of each other ! All unmis- 

 takable grayling rises this time, quick little 

 sucking snatches, quite unlike any of the rises 

 of trout, much as they vary. 



All but one of the rises is within casting 

 distance, and I get half-a-dozen grayling alto- 

 gether at this spot, small ones, from about 

 four or five ounces up to three-quarters of a 

 pound. The bigger ones seldom rise to a dry-fly 

 in these parts, though I know that there are 

 some big ones about, up to two and three pounds. 

 The seventh is better a pound and a half. 

 Then no more flies are to be seen, and no rises. 



The bicycle-ride was a long one, the slackness 

 of autumn is in my ageing muscles, and the 

 step of a stile affords a convenient seat, so now 

 is the time for luncheon. The ordinary sand- 

 wich is an abomination ; not so the fresh 

 mutton-pies of a pastrycook passed in the 

 town at the foot of the valley, nor the new 

 well-browned sticky buns, a sign of the return 

 of peace to the land, the passing of the " sub- 

 stitutes." Yesterday was an apple-picking day ; 

 there is a wonderful crop this year, and grand 

 weather to get them in, and my pocket contains 

 samples of the best of the windfalls a Cox's 



