DOWN THE RIVER. 147 



ant, but in warm weather I find it intolerable, and wade 

 without attempting to keep dry. 



For a mile or so I think the fly took two trout to one 

 for the bait. They rose mostly to the brown tail fly. 

 But we got no large fish. The river was deep and strong. 

 Heavy rains had swollen it, and an occasional plunge 

 into a deep hole warned me to be cautious if I did not 

 care to swim. 



At length we approached a spot where the river nar- 

 rowed, and ran swift and strong under a log which crossed 

 it three feet above the surface. On either side the bank 

 was cut under by the current. 



" I wonder," said John, " whether my big fish is in his 

 hole under that bank." 



" Do you keep one there ?" 



" I left one there last year. I lifted him out twice and 

 lost him." 



" Try him again now, and I'll look on." 



So John let his red-fin tail swing down the current, 

 and, drawing it toward the bank, dragged it swiftly up 

 under the crossing log. The trout lay in his hole and 

 saw it, and made a bold clash at it. 



" I've got him," said John, as he swung him out, but 

 down he went again into the swift current. 



" He's gone back to the same hole," said John, and 

 repeated the manoeuvre. The result was precisely the 

 same, and again he lifted him out, dragged him ten feet 

 in the rushing rapid, and lost him. " I'll have him yet," 

 said the determined guide ; and at him he went again, and 

 again hooked and lost him. 



Mark the fact that this trout had been severely hooked 

 three times, and as many times repeated his rush at the 

 bait; for on the fourth attempt John landed him, a pound- 



