THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE GOOSE 43 



to the chance projections or dug my interrupted at short distances by rapids 



ringers into small cracks and looked roeks and falls. 



down upon the hacks of some golden My angler's instincl told me thai the 



eagles sailing in spirals below me, I biggest fish lurked in the more quiet 



regretted making the foolhardy resoln- waters, to reach which it was necessary 



tion, but when the top was reached and to creep and worm myself over the open 



I saw signs of sheep and had a peep at Hats of sharp stones and patches of 



a white object I took to be a goat I heather, but once on the vantage ground 



felt repaid for my arduous climb. The the whish ! of a trout rod sounded there 



elevated prairie or tableland on which for the first time since the dawn of crea- 



I found myself corresponded in every tion and the braided silk line cut the air 



important particular with the park ; back of me. I waited an instant for the 



there were the same natural divisions line to straighten, so as not to snap off 



of prairie and forests, the same erratic my lead fly, then another whish! and 



boulders, but on account of the differ- the delicate line sailed gracefully out 



ence in elevation there was a corre- i n front of me, the cobweb-like leader 



sponding difference in plant life. straightening out just before it dropped 



The topography of that country is so below the bank on the surface of the 



familiar to me that I have but to close invisible water. Then there was an 



my eyes to see it all again, but on ac- audible plash, responded to by a quick 



count of that very familiarity I may not movement of my wrist, and the first fish 



have been careful enough in my explan- was hooked. My, how that reel did 



ations to make the situation plain to sing! Before I realized it my fish had 



the reader, and, that he may better reached the rapid water and taken out 



understand I will call the reader's at- a dangerous amount of line; still I 



tention to the fact that, owing to what dared not check him too severely among 



geologists would call a subsidence, Dar- the sharp rocks and swift waters, so I 



linkle's Park consists of a sunken sec- ran along the bank, stumbling over 



tion of an extensive and comparatively stones, but managing to avail myself of 



level valley, a portion of which still re- every opportunity to wind in line until 



tains its original elevated position. Be- I had the satisfaction of seeing enough 



yond this bit of level ground rise the on my reel to prepare me for possible 



mountains. emergencies. 



Every trout fisherman is aware that Ah ! that was a glorious fight, and 

 these fish have sharp eyes and their . when at last I was able to steer my ex- 

 vision is not confined to the aqueous at- hausted fish into shallow water I saw 

 mosphere in which they live. Hence, that there were three of them, one lusty 

 the angler must conceal himself to in- trout on each of my three flies. I had 

 sure success, but when the banks of the no landing net, so I gently slid the 

 stream are devoid of bushes, trees or almost comatose fish on a gravel bar 

 big rocks there is nothing for the dis- and as I did so I experienced one of 

 ciple of Isaac Walton to do in approach- those delightful thrills which come to 

 ing but creep on hands and knees, or man's lot but once or twice in a life 

 ignominously crawl on his belly. time ; but it was not because I had cap- 

 Under such circumstances he must tured three at a strike, for I have done 

 cast at the spot where he knows the that before and since, but I thrilled be- 

 water to be and trust to his sense of cause there was not only a new and 

 touch and hearing to know when the strange kind of trout, but they were of 

 fish rise to the fly. the color and sheen of newly-minted 

 The tablelands above the park were gold ! Never before had I seen such 

 comparatively level in places where the trout. 



stream ran almost as quietly as a mead- I have since been informed that I had 



ow brook, but these level stretches were blundered on to waters inhabitated by 



