29 



Apparently rising from the tranquil regions below, they <irc made 

 semi-colinnnar, to adopt a botanical expression, by the action (jf the 

 torrent, which in course of time will reduce and spoil tliem for 

 sheltering the weary travellers that now seek their protection. Like 

 ghosts, these so-called " hedgehogs " must be spoken to a little before 

 the_\- will c\])Iain themselves ; for it is just here that the we.ikness 

 of the convcnliun-ridden is manifest, and the art of the scientist 

 supreme. 



In whatever else we differ, we are all united in this : llial close 

 behind these peaks will salmon lie. The inference is plain. 



We have to depart from the ordinary princi]ile of presentation : 

 we have to put our fly, not four or five yards in front of, but actually 

 over the spot which holds the fish, or it will not be seen at all. In 

 ordinary catches, salmon invariably refuse a fly thus presented. 

 What on earth, then, would produce an effect, and satisfy their tasle 

 in the twinkling of an e}e at such complicated places as these! An 

 ordinal-}' fly of any size, of any colour or combination of colours, an 

 uncommon method of ]3la_\-ing it over them, in fact, dodges and 

 schemes of all sorts had but the one effect, \i/., that produced b\- the 

 aiijiearance of the full moon in the sk)-. The fish iiuariabl)- "go 

 down " when the moon is up. 



In the original belief that there remained an opening at these 

 catches for not unreasf)nable hope, it was iiislinc!i\e!)' found on actual 

 inspection that the ke\' to the m\stcry la\- hidden in the pursuit of 

 some special feature in fly work as yet untried. This finding proved 

 to be correct, for in due course a one-inch variel}- of " Iconise '" came 

 boastingly to the rescue. 



" Louise " herself belongs to the tribe " Impennates," i.e., small 



