The Somerset reporter., 1895-02-14
FISH OR PINE?

DN SunSnluG lliO ulstlnCVlNe DCauty Oh
their own, deadened by mist out of all
individuality, SO that the wandering
fisherman has some excuse for being
careless of names, of everything save the
trout lying between the shallow and the
deep. The time was June, and l 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 purgatory instead of a par
adise to those who have not the purse of
Fortunatus
Day after day rose eloudless, serene,
in true june fashion. There was no one
to hurry me, no one to hint at a light
basket As Cor SPORT fish must feed,
even in the driest weather, and some
times, if tho heat haze dimmcd tae wa.
ter and a cau,elesS breeze set the cot
ton tas>els swinging, a brief half hour
would come sufficient fer mot mon.
Tn tie charm ot - I'M evenings.
when, though the ligat left the world. il
fingered IN the sky til dawn brought
renewal, kept mo in thrall and drove
my cook to distraction.
] had bad a blank day on the bigger
loehs. Even the time between and half
past. when the glitter goes from the wa
ter, brought me 10 luck. On my way
home, partly for the sake of lingering
longer in the surprising beauty Of tho
moors, | bethought me of blue dot,
which, according to tlo map, should
lie half a mile to the westward.
| shall never forget my first sight of
Loeb Finaich, or Loch Of the Heather,
as it was called Held i'll the hollow of
the hills, ii had two arms, one stretching
west to where the 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 qucnehing the fires Of sunset in the
sky. The other arm wound, dark and
deep like a shadoWed mirror, iutoa me-
cipltous eorrei. WI are the snoWdriits
still lay, despite the heat There was
an unearthly stiffness al silence in its
beauty which thrilled o. through and
through. A distinct d sire to take ref
uge i'll the commonplace made me hurry
to strip of shingle and throw my fly
where faint SHADOW told of weeds he.
low the warcr The next instant | for
got everything III the knowledge that u
big fish had risen short. The brown
body and turkey wing lit like thistle
down again and again without re.
sponso, and was about to turn away
when "a 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, to
windWard, to leeward of ii, without
success. The glare had left even the
eastern shore The sunset had faded to
pearly grays and Colds. twas growing
late. But one more cast-by all that Is
tantalizing-at me again!
Very annoying, said Il voice be.
hind me as my fly fell ON the water,
light, but determined
| turned in surprise. Some ten yards
off on the bank behind me man of
about 30 was leaning on landing net,
from his dress a fisher like myself,
though he carried 10 rod.
Very annoying, | echoed "but I'll
get the brute yet.
l doubt it l thought SO, too but
was mistaken.
To a fisherman the confession of fail
ure in a@eiyal is never disheartening
put lit.lo more skill into my cast,
that was all.
1T has been beautiful day, hasn
it?n went on the voice behind, just as
the fish stirred again. AS fine "a mid
summer eve rs / remember BY the
way, do the folk about here tell tales ef
the dangers of St Johns eve, as they
used to do?'
No, " l replied shortly, for | was
rapidly losing my temper over that
devil Of fish, "but can imagine IL
Pixies, fairies and all that bosh "
"Just so. All that bosh "
Something in his tone made me pause
Well, it is bosh isn't it, ! echoed
Doubtless, and yet'-he paused in
his turn-"how are you to know that the
big fish yonder which is tempting yau
to linger hore-on st. Johns eve, mari.
you-is not "a pixie
The conctit amused me. Besides the
brute might think better Of its Ways
after a rest ! laid aside my red, took
out my pipe and leaned against the bank
on which my new acquaintance had
seated himself
Because it ism t. " said stolidly.
Nevertheless it is a thing that is alb
solutely incapable of proof save by ex-
pericnce, and if the experience means
death anl silence