236 TROUT FISHING 



places in which others might be expected. 

 If it is of the fitful, gusty kind that 

 sometimes comes when there's thunder 

 lurking about, the fish are sulky and 

 don't rise. If there is no wind at all, 

 what are you to do 1 The boat won't 

 move unless you pull it. 



The last-mentioned predicament befell 

 Ronald and me. We had not been five 

 minutes afloat before our soft breeze 

 drooped and died. We had intended to 

 go to the head of the loch, where there is 

 a large sand -and -pebble shallow, just 

 the place where sport is to be hoped 

 for in a good wind ; but, now that the 

 breeze had passed, there was no use 

 going. Indeed, was it any use going 

 anywhere ? I put it to Ronald frankly, 

 but with chagrin. 



" 'Deed, ay, sir ! " said the gamekeeper 

 reassuringly. "Ye have to throw the 

 flees lichtly in a dead calm like this ; but 

 if ye manage that ye often raise a troot." 



This I knew. In a smooth stream a 

 dead calm does not put a stop to one's 



