MEMOIRS OF MONSTERS. 
81 
towards the opposite bank, which was heavily wooded 
down to the brink. The nearer half of the river is (in 
fine water) a deep back-set where the line, if allowed 
to enter, is instantly drowned. This combination 
necessitates not only long casting, but rapid—long 
throws and quick re¬ 
turns, which means hard 
work, especially as a 
high bank, twenty yards 
behind, involved lifting 
the line well up in air. 
Visum veniunt , pa- 
ventque videntes! The 
swish of the fly in their 
faces so on cleared off* the 
spectators to safer dis¬ 
tances, and about half 
way down the pool, there 
came that tug—no, it is 
not a tug, but a sudden 
inflexible resistance as of 
a tree-trunk or of solid 
rock. But I knew that 
a big fish had annexed 
the fly, deep-under and 
without showing, and 
“BORING.” 
delayed not to drive 
the small double hook well home in his jaws. 
Five minutes later, after a prolonged period of 
bottom-fighting, jagging and sulking, alternated with 
subaqua tic gymnastics and contortions that kept me 
trembling for my tackle, the captive came up with a 
G 
