upper
stream. He tried the lower reach; and not very successfully. For he
had never been able to replace the tackle lost on the eventful afternoon
when Widow Wisdom's boat had gone over the falls. He had his fly-book
still, and had come across an old reel which, fitted to a makeshift rod
with common twine, had to do duty until he could afford a regular new
turnout. It was better than nothing, but the fish seemed somehow to get
wind of the fact that they were not being treated with proper respect,
and refused to have more to do than they could help with irregular-
looking apparatus.

Rollitt put up with their unreasonableness for a long time that morning
and afternoon. With infinite patience he tried one fly after another,
and either bank in turn. He gave them a chance of being hooked under
the falls, or right down on the flats by the lake. But it was no go.
They wouldn't be tempted.

At last, as it was growing dusk, he became conscious that it had been
raining fast for half an hour, and that he was wet through. He looked
up and saw a grim pall of wet lying over the lake and all up the side of
Hawk's Pike, of which only the lower slope was distinguishable through
the mist. It was not a promising evening; and Rollitt, now he came to
think of it, might as well go back to Fellsgarth as stand about here.

So he collected his tackle and turned homeward. His path from the lake
brought him across the track which leads round to the back of the
mountain; and he was just turning in here when he heard what sounded
like a halloo on the hill-side. It was probably only a shepherd calling
his dog, but he waited to make sure.

Yes, it was a shout, but it sounded more like a sheep than a man.
Rollitt shouted back. A quick response came, and presently out of the
mist a shadowy form emerged running down the slope, hopping over the
boulders, and making for the lane.

A minute more and Wally presented himself.

"Hullo, is that you, Rollitt? I thought I was lost. I say, have you
seen the others?"

Rollitt shook his head.

"Whew! I made sure they'd come down. I say, what a go if they're lost
up there, a night like this?"

Rollitt looked up at the dim mountain-side and nodded again.

"I thought I was on a path, you know, and hallooed to them. They didn't
hear, so I went back for them, and--so we've missed."

"Who!" said Rollitt.

"Do you know my young brother Percy, a Modern kid? He was one, and all
our lot, yo