38 THE AMERICAN- TROUT. 



saw a large trout leap heavily out of water, where the cur- 

 rent swept with a swirl past a high rock. As I rigged up 

 my flies, George borrowed my knife to cut a pole, as he did 

 not have much faith in " them things," and while he was 

 gone, I crept cautiously up behind the rock, and cast 

 over the further projecting point. I could not see my 

 flies alight, but heard a splash, and striking felt I had a 

 splendid fish. He fought bravely, but by keeping him 

 in the upper part of the pool, the lower end by the rock, 

 was not disturbed. After some trouble, I landed him, 

 having no net. Then approaching the rock with the 

 same caution, the performance was repeated, only this 

 time my rod was broken in endeavoring to land the fish, 

 and it was necessary to find George and obtain my 

 knife. 



I discovered him under the bushes on the bank, in a 

 miserable state — it was oppressively hot — his rod was a 

 long sapling, and naturally heavy — the sky and water 

 were clear, and the fish would not touch the worm, 

 which we could see from where he sat. He had only 

 taken two miserable little fish. He did no better all 

 day, and while I rose and killed fish after fish, he did 

 not take another one. When afternoon came, and he 

 impatiently urged me away, my basket was so full it 

 broke down, and he had his two fish. On reaching his 

 house, the boys spread our respective takes out on a 

 board, and to George's deep chagrin exhibited them to 

 the entire vHlage. He has not taught a " Yorker " how 

 to catch trout since. 



So much for your countryman, with his bed-cord for 

 line and stick for pole, and yet George was admitted to 



