20 THE SONG OF THE REEL. 



stream, " foaming between peat-bogs, amidst mossy boulders at his 

 feet," is continually reinforced by tiny rills, which fall down 

 precipitous rocky clefts. Thus gradually and gradually the tumult- 

 uous beck assumes more goodly proportions. If the angler desire 

 he can accompany it to where it flows through the pastoral vale, or 

 to where it mingles its waters with those of another stream, to be 

 carried on to greater rivers, to join them in their music whilst 

 they go singing to the sea. But to-day he is concerned with its 

 higher moorland reaches only. There, below those numerous cas- 

 cades, behind those frequent boulders, in all pools, tiny, quiet places, 

 and under overhanging banks in fact, but little of the water is 

 unfishable lie the eager trout. And in this wild and " savage " 

 region live creatures that love solitude. Maybe it is where the 

 sturdy grouse have their haunts, and also the timid mountain sheep. 

 The hawk is noticed scanning the slopes, whilst the plaintive call 

 of the curlew, especially towards the close of the day, drives home 

 to the angler the sense of the great loneliness, remoteness and 

 vastness of the moors. 



Although these trout of the moor rise freely to the fly, the 

 most deadly lure is undoubtedly the worm, fished up-stream in thick 

 water. When the flood-gates of the heavens are opened, and the 

 Storm -god is abroad among the mountains, the whole region becomes 

 a place of hopeless desolation. Countless rills hurl themselves 

 down from the cloud-wrapt heights, and in every conceivable chan- 

 nel the rain-water rushes noisily to the brimming streamlet below. 

 The latter soon swells to a roaring turmoil of peat-stained flood, 

 and, as if rejoicing in its abounding strength, races along madly. 

 Anon the clouds lift, the rain ceases, and in a comparatively short 

 time the turbid stream becomes clearer and decreases in volume and 

 rapidity. Now is the time for the "pot-hunter" to sally forth 

 with a well-filled worm-bag, since in its present state the moorland 

 stream or mountain burn yields up its choicest specimens. 



Worm-fishing in thick water, however, is considered a most 

 unscientific mode of angling, being entirely different from " clear- 

 water-worming " ; hence the more sportsmanlike angler refrains 



