ree from anxiety as to the
future, perchance lie at ease in the tranquil flow of the pools, and
push on to the lake at our leisure."

Whereat the anglers of No. 9 rejoiced, for they had lovely wading
ground, with probably a minimum of rock trouble, and so killed fish day
by day. The rapids and passes to which I have been referring as
constituting the upper length of our beat were, I may add, not
continuous, but had to be approached by repeated climbs up to the road
level and a descent at some point farther on. The rocks hereabouts,
too, were wonderfully sharp-edged as compared with others which had
been fashioned and polished by the action of water, and there was a
general idea of Titanic splintering up that was not a little impressive.

One pool of the highest repute for salmon in a fair height of water was
walled by lofty rocks on the village side, but was fishable from shore
on the other. This could only be attained by crossing the river either
above or below in a boat, and walking or stumbling to the head of the
pool over an acreage of scattered rocks. From the elevation of the
road this seemed an easy task, for distance toned down the obstacles so
that they appeared scarcely more formidable than pebbles. At close
quarters they, however, proved the most fatiguing of all; they were too
high for lightly stepping over, and too far apart for unbroken
progress, so that for a quarter of an hour you were letting yourself
down and hoisting yourself up these countless hindrances. The stones
along the edge of the pool were a trifle smaller, but it was never safe
to take a step without looking at your ground.

You soon get into the way of such a condition of affairs; you learn
that, however the torrent may swirl or roar, you must keep your eye on
your foothold, since a small error may plunge you into the current. It
is essential, of course, to take advantage of every boulder that
affords even an extra foot of command over the pool. The pool in
question could only be properly fished by keeping the rod at right
angles over the stream, which could be beautifully worked at the edge
or centre by the rod-top pointing a little upwards. But to do this you
had often to stand on a boulder-perch in the water not larger than your
brogue.

Strangely enough I was always in dread of hooking a salmon in this
pool, though in truth we never caught or saw one in it. I had arranged
beforehand with Ole to lend me the support of his s