large as \vc expected. Every face Uinied Inwards tlie angler. Every 

 car strained In hear what lie flashed out on the advantagi; of fine 

 tackle. Hut, pcrh.ips, the tactics pursued should be explained while 

 the fish lay sulking. 



With the rod scarcely bending, the angler backeil inch by inch 

 nearer the shore, and soon stepped on terra firiiia. As good as his 

 word, instead of exciting the fish — a practice alwa}-s to be strongly 

 deprecated— the Professor stood still as a mouse for fully ten minutes. 

 At the expiration of that time, the fish evinced a determination to 

 make up stream. To the very neck of the pool did it siioot, marking 

 its course by a marvellous succession of " ducks-and-drakes " the 

 whole way uj). At every leap the point of the rod instantly curtsied. 

 Nothing could be nicer, or more opportune. 



" It's mine now for a pony. I never mind the iiook being where 

 it is in a pool of this sort, so long as some one is with me in waders." 



This significant remark came forth in tones of such easy flow and 

 soft modulation of voice, that an unenlightened spectator might well 

 have thought he was listening to the simplest of [ilatitudes. I slipped 

 on my wading trousers in the bothy. The hvlies, dull and vexed 

 because they knew what hooking in the back usually meant, looked 

 in each other's faces and read one unspoken thought there common to 

 all — disappointment. 



" If my fine gut doesn't get cut by a rock, I'm thinking it's strong 

 enough for tlie job," urged the Professor, perfecll\- at home in the 

 particular treatment of the whole business. Then someone lent a 

 little encouragement, by remarking that the rod could not be in better 

 hands, and that one of us would go at once and station himself in the 

 rapid below, as sooner or later the fish will have to be steered on the 



