70 DEER-STALKING. 



My acceptance of and thanks for the kind sugges- 

 tion were more eloquent than lengthy. A rod was soon 

 put together, and throwing a gaff over my shoulder, I 

 was off to the river, which wanted no finding, for it ran 

 at the foot of the lawn in front of the house. After 

 a study of the water, and the selection of a fly that 

 appeared about the right size, I strolled up stream in 

 search of a pool ; three likely-looking places were tried 

 blank. I afterwards found out two of them were no 

 good, and that the third only occasionally held a fish. 

 Making my way higher up, I came to a very primitive 

 wire suspension-bridge, and, "says I to myself, says 

 I," if that is not a " catch " under it I never saw one. 

 And right enough it was, and almost the first cast I 

 was into a fish ; a good deal of " give " for a few 

 minutes, and plenty of " take " afterwards, and in a 

 short time a goodly fourteen pounder laid on the bank. 



Much pleased with my luck, and darkness coming on, 

 I strolled back, and deposited my capture on the stone- 

 slab near the front door, and put there for the purpose. 

 The butler met me in the hall and showed me to my 

 room, not without many a halt and longing look of 

 admiration on my part, at the heads and horns that 

 decorated every landing and passage. Descending to 

 the drawing-room, I received a very hearty welcome, 

 and many congratulations on my luck with the salmon 

 the first of the autumn season. 



Dinner over as the decanters commenced their 

 round, the plans for to-morrow came on for discussion. 



Two parties of two each were to go grousing, one 

 could fish, and one could stalk. Thus, when my host 



