240 TROUT FISHING 



" No ? " said Ronald, who during this 

 brief dialogue had been testing the cast- 

 ing power of the little rod. — " Guidsake, 

 what's that ? " 



It was for him, rather than for me, to 

 say ; although out of the corner of an 

 eye, as I was screening with my hands 

 the flame of a match, I saw a disturbance 

 just where the flies had fallen. It was 

 a sudden surge in the water and a furrow 

 heaving outwards. 



"She's a whustler, whatever," said 

 Ronald eagerly. " Tak' the rod, sir ? " 



" No, no, Ronald : your bird, you 

 know. Does he feel heavy ? " 



" Vera," said he in quiet wonderment. 

 " A whustler beyond a doobt." 



" Whustler " means big and fierce fish, 

 probably so-called from the peculiarly 

 agreeable tune which the reel plays as 

 the line is run ofi^. Thus, Ronald's state- 

 ment was very cheering. 



" Michty me, look at that ! Tak' the 

 rod, sir — tak' the rod ! We'll ha'e to pu' 

 oot." 



