Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-03-29
FISH OR PIXIE?

II was hidden away in the ohalioo Of
the hills like a dewdrop in tho folds Of
u burdock leaf-one Of those mountain
tarns Of Western Ross which arc reused
by sunshine into distinctive beauty Of
their owD, deadened by mist out Of all
individuality, so that the wandering
fisherman has some exous for being
careless Of names, Of everything save the
trout lying between the shallow and the
deep. The time was June, and I had
slipped away from London for three
weeks freedom ere the gathering Of the
gillies and the general raid of the popu-
lace on the Sassenach make the West
Highlands a purgatory instead of a par
adise TO those who have not the purse of
Fortunatus.
Day after day rose oloudless. serene,
in true June fashion. There was no one
TO hurry me, no one to hint at q light
basket. AS for sport, fish clust feed,
even in tho driest weather, and some
times, if the heat haze dimmed the wa
ter aud q causeless breeze set the cot
ton tassels swinging, a brief half hour
would come, sufficient for most men,
Then the charm Of the long evenings,
when, though the light left tho world, it
fingered in the sky till dawn brought
renewal, kept me in thrall and drove
my cook to distraction.
] had had a blank day on the bigger
lochs. Even the time between z and half
past, when tho glitter goes from the wa
ter. brought me no luck. On my way
home, partly for the sake Of lingering
longer in the surprising beauty of tho
moors, l b%ethought me of a blue dot,
which, according to the map, should
lie half a mile to the westward.
/ shall never forget my first sight Of
Loeb Finaich, or Loeb of the Heather,
as it was called. Held in tho hollow Of
tho hills, it had two arms, II stretching
west to where tho moorland sloped
swiftly to the sea. Thus at its farther
end the shining level of water looked
about as if to plunge into space, intent
on quenching the fires of unset in the
sky. Tho other arm wound. dark and
deep like a Swallowed mirror, into a pre-
cipitous correi, where tho snowdrifts
still lay, despite the heat. There was
an unearthly stiffness and silence In its
beauty which thrilled me through and
through. A distinct desire to take ref
uge in the commonplace made me hurry
TO a strip Of shingle and throw my fly
where a faint shadow told of weeds be-
low the water. The next instant 1 for
got everything in the knowledge that a
big fish bad risen short. The brown
body and turkey wing lit like q thistle
down again and again without 70.
Spouse, and / was about to turn away
when q circle Of widening ripples told
me the brute was at me Once more.
Mortal angler could not resist the chal-
lenge. / threw over it, around it, Il
windwards ia leeward of it, without
success. Tho glare had left wen the
eastern shore. The sunset had faded t
pearly grays aud Colds. It was growing
late. But one more oast-by all that il
tantalizing-at me againi
Very annoying, said a voice be
hind mo as my fly fell ON the water
light, but determined.
! turned in surprise, Some ten yard
OF on tho bank behind me n man o
about 80 was leaning on a landing net
from his dress a fisher like myself
though no carried no rod.
VERY annoying, " l echoed, ''but II
get the brute yet.
II doubt it. / thought so, too, but
was mistaken
To a fisherman the confession of fail
ure IN a rival is never disheartening
put a little more skill into my cast
that was all.
1T has been a beautiful day, hasn'
it?'' went on the voice behind, just q
the FISH stirred again. "As fno q mid
summer eve as i femember. By tn.
way, do the folk about here tell tales o
the dangers Of st. Johns eve, as The,
used to dO?"
NO." 1 replied shortly, for / wa
rapidly losing my temper over tina
devil Of a fish, but / can imagine il
Pixies, fairies and all that bosh.
"Just so. All that bosh.
Something in his tone made me pause
"Well, 1t is bosh, isn't itg' / echoed
Doubtless, and yet"-ho paused il
his turn-''how are you to know that tn
big nsh yonder which is tempting yoI
TO linger here-on ST. Johns eve, mar
you-is not q pixie?"
Tho c0nceit amused mo. Besides th
brute might think better Of its way
after a rest. / laid aside my rod, tool
ons my pipe and leaned against the ban
on which my now acquaintance haI
seated himself.
Because it isn't, " ! said stolidly.
Nevertheless it Is a thing that is al