NOTES FROM A DIARY 151 



up and down the river I at last located 

 him just opposite, close to the further 

 bank, under a tuft of thistles and rising 

 steadily. All that was needed was one 

 dexterous underhand cast, avoiding the 

 apple-trees behind, and placing the fly 

 just over and above my fish. This was 

 accomplished. My fly imbedded itself 

 securely in the largest thistle-head. The 

 fish w^ent down, so did my second sand- 

 wich, and curiously enough it had a far 

 superior flavour. The last mouthful saw 

 the fish up again and feeding. Another 

 fly was carefully attached and flew off* to 

 join its brother among those hardy 

 thistles. Then followed the consumption 

 of another sandwich. Things went on 

 in this way till the fisher dropped out or 

 was eliminated. It became a wild contest 

 between ham-sandwiches and Dark Olive 

 Duns, but eventually the former won the 

 day, for on two occasions a fly failed to 

 grasp the thistle patch and sank upon the 

 water. The trout became too eager at 

 these opportunities ; in both cases he 

 rushed blindly at the fly and missed it. 

 There were at the finish no less than 



