262 TROUT FISHING 



of that. Instead, he sauntered to and 

 fro, now and then raising himself so high 

 that I could see his tail slowly waving 

 above the water in the moonlight. It 

 waved sedately, and seemed to be the tail 

 of a tired whustler ; but I had no bigotry 

 on that score. Once, by way of rehears- 

 ing the final act, which was to go off in 

 acclaim when Ronald brought the gaff, 

 I tried to persuade him to come ashore. 

 I was not successful. Although the rod 

 bent into a semicircle, the whustler paid 

 no heed. He went on his leisurely way 

 as if nothing at all were happening. I 

 had an uneasy thought that he was 

 recruiting his energies in contemplation 

 of a new campaign, and I longed for the 

 return of the boat. 



At length I heard the plash of oars 

 and the sound of excited voices. In a 

 few minutes Ronald and the Minister 

 came ashore. I heard the rattle of a 

 chain, and knew that the boat was being 

 fastened. 



" Hold hard, Ronald," I called out. 



