90 



hazarded an opinion that it would be wholly impolitic for anybody to 

 put a fly over the pool just yet. 



" Ah ! just so," and with one comprehensive glance which seemed 

 to take in the whole situation he continued, " then I hit on the reason 

 just now, didn't I ? " 



" You did, and that's what struck me so much. At any rate, if 

 you come into the bothy till the storm is over, you shall hear all about 

 the ' other chap,' as you call him, and decide what to do." 



It was a blinding snowstorm. We had no sooner sat down than 

 another incident occurred, the result of which increased my curiosity. 



Bang went a champagne cork ! 



" That sounds well," he shouted, " but I say, if those fellows can 

 wade on their side it's all U. P., for I took particular stock of this pool 

 in passing by ; I twigged it at a glance. (' At a glance,' eh !) My 

 gillie Charles lived near here and told me about this singular piece of 

 water last night. This morning I sent over to his lordship, asking 

 permission to put a fly down it. I may just tell you that a lady 

 staying at the Lodge is an intimate friend of mine ; but after all I 

 should be far better pleased to see you have a shot at it yourself." 



" Not for the world," was the reply, in a tone of unshaken 

 firmness. 



The sky soon began to clear. In the meantime, Charles (his 

 gillie), having been industriously engaged in getting the tackle ready, 

 stood "at attention," and while clutching a i6-ft. rod that carried a 

 No. 4 line, to which was attached four feet of thin but round salmon 

 gut — the precise tackle for the occasion — he glanced smilingly at a 

 batch of thin-bodied light-winged flies intended for the bottom of the 

 Slack, and remarked — " They'll soon be showing down there, the 



