replied Miss
Asquith, "but oh, ain't they pretty?"

"Guess they are half pounders, perhaps the biggest will go three
quarters," said Cal, as he adjusted the "shrinker," a little spring
scale which he took from his pocket. "Nine ounces and fourteen ounces,
larger than I thought they were," said Cal, as he placed them in his
creel. "I guess we'd better be moving towards the camp, and as we go I
will tell you one secret of catching trout. As your flies settle into
the water, pull against them easy all the time as though they were
fastened to something, a good deal like 'feeling a horse's mouth' when
driving. This seeming tension, while infinitesimal, is enough that when
a trout grabs the fly he can not drop it; and when you feel the 'tug,'
instead of jerking your line out of the water turn your hand over and
upward a little. This will set the hook deep, then land your catch--if
you can."

"Oh, yes, it is easy enough to say it," replied Miss Asquith.

The camp was soon reached and a gay party discussed the two "big ones"
at dinner upon their arriving at the hotel.

"There are very few trout caught in the Park that exceed a pound, and
more six ouncers or less than in excess of six," said Cal. "The large
three to eight pound red throated mountain trout are more plentiful in
the waters that empty into the Pacific Ocean or Rio Grande River than in
the streams that go to the North Platte and on into the Missouri River."

Trips of this nature and exploration tours followed each other day after
day, until all the country had been visited.

One trip which Jack deferred was to Long's Peak, and as day succeeded
day he was conscious that his little party cast longing glances toward
that snowcapped, uncompromising sentinel of the plains. So few ventured
to undertake the fatigue incident to the wearisome and perilous journey
that little was heard of the experiences, and those who did accomplish
it seemed loath to recount much of their experience. When the signs in
the zodiac at last became propitious, and all were physically and
morally equal to the attempt, preparations were made to go to the Half
Way house, Lamb's ranch, and the next morning, at four o'clock, make an
early start to climb the peak. No fishing tackle was carefully stowed
away, no odds wagered on results, and no great amount of unrestrained
merriment attended the "make ready" as wraps, lunches, heavy ironshod
walking sticks and sundry necessaries were packed into t