"Oh, he's gone! He's gone! Oh, I'm so mad!" She stamped savagely on the grass."He was a monster.""They always are," said her husband gravely."The fellows that get off, I mean.""Now you're just laughing at me, and I won't have it! I could just sit down and cry! My very first fish!""Never mind, Mandy, we'll get him or just as good a one again.""Never! He'll never bite again.He isn't such a fool.""Well, they do.They're just like the rest of us.They keep nibbling till they get caught; else there would be no fun in fishing or in-- Now try another throw--same place--a little farther down.Ah! That was a fine cast.Once more.No, no, not that way.Flip it lightly and if you ever get a bite hold your rod so.See? Press the end against your body so that you can reel your fish in.And don't hurry these big fellows.You lose them and you lose your fun.""I don't want the fun," cried Mandy, "but I do want that fish and I'm going to get him.""By Jove, I believe you just will!" The young man's dark eyes flashed an admiring glance over the strong, supple, swaying figure of the girl at his side, whose every move, as she cast her fly, seemed specially designed to reveal some new combination of the graceful curves of her well-knit body.
"Keep flicking there.You'll get him.He's just sulking.If he only knew, he'd hurry up.""Knew what?"
"Who was fishing for him."
"Oh! Oh! I've got him." The girl was dancing excitedly along the bank."No! Oh, what a wretch! He's gone.Now if I get him you tell me what to do, but don't touch me.""All you have to do is to hold him steady at the first.Keep your line fairly tight.If he begins to plunge, give him line.If he slacks, reel in.Keep him nice and steady, just like a horse on the bit.""Oh, why didn't you tell me before? I know exactly what that means--just like a colt, eh? I can handle a colt.""Exactly! Now try lower down--let your fly float down a bit--there."
Again there was a wild shriek from the girl.
"Oh, I've got him sure! Now get the net.""Don't jump about so! Steady now--steady--that's better.Fine!
Fine work! Let him go a bit--no, check--wind him up.Look out!
Not too quick! Fine! Oh! Look out! Get him away from that jam!
Reel him up! Quick! Now play him! Let me help you.""Don't you dare touch this rod, Allan Cameron, or there'll be trouble!""Quite right--pardon me--quite right.Steady! You'll get him sure.And he's a beauty, a perfect Rainbow beauty.""Keep quiet, now," admonished Mandy."Don't shout so.Tell me quietly what to do.""Do as you like.You can handle him.Just watch and wait--feel him all the time.Ah-h-h! For Heaven's sake don't let him into that jam! There he goes up stream! That's better! Good!""Don't get so excited! Don't yell so!" again admonished Mandy.
"Tell me quietly."
"Quietly? Who's yelling, I'd like to know? Who's excited? Iwon't say another word.I'll get the landing-net ready for the final act.""Don't leave me! Tell me just what to do.He's getting tired, Ithink."
"Watch him close.Wind him up a bit.Get all the line in you can.
Steady! Let go! Let go! Let him run! Now wind him again.Wait, hold him so, just a moment--a little nearer! Hurrah! Hurrah!
I've got him and he's a beauty--a perfectly typical Rainbow trout.""Oh, you beauty!" cried Mandy, down on her knees beside the trout that lay flapping on the grass."What a shame! Oh, what a shame!
Oh, put him in again, Allan, I don't want him.Poor dear, what a shame.""But we must weigh him, you see," remonstrated her husband."And we need him for tea, you know.He really doesn't feel it much.
There are lots more.Try another cast.I'll attend to this chap.""I feel just like a murderer," said Mandy."But isn't it glorious?
Well, I'll just try one more.Aren't you going to get your rod out too?""Well, rather! What a pool, all unspoiled, all unfished!""Does no one fish up here?"
"Yes, the Police come at times from the Fort.And Wyckham, our neighbor.And old man Thatcher, a born angler, though he says it's not sport, but murder.""Why not sport?"
"Why? Old Thatcher said to me one day, 'Them fish would climb a tree to get at your hook.That ain't no sport.'"But sport, and noble sport, they found it through the long afternoon, so that, when through the scraggy pines the sun began to show red in the western sky, a score or more lusty, glittering, speckled Rainbow trout lay on the grass beside the shady pool.
Tired with their sport, they lay upon the grassy sward, luxuriating in the warm sun.
"Now, Allan," cried Mandy, "I'll make tea ready if you get some wood for the fire.You ought to be thankful I taught you how to use the ax.Do you remember?""Thankful? Well, I should say.Do YOU remember that day, Mandy?""Remember!" cried the girl, with horror in her tone."Oh, don't speak of it.It's too awful to think of.""Awful what?"
"Ugh!" she shuddered, "I can't bear to think of it.I wish you could forget.""Forget what?"
