s as might be washed down and into
the great hole behind the stone.

As the tyro whisked and waved the rod about, the natural result was that
he ran out more and more line, which, thanks to the rushing water, was
saved from entanglement.

"It's of no use," he said at last despondently, after nearly
overbalancing himself, and feeling very dizzy once more.

The remark was meant for the forester's ears, but the sound drowned it,
and the forester shouted,--

"Noo acain, laddie! Get a good grip o' the butt, and send the flee
close under the stane; ta fush is there."

Max drew a long breath, and, after the fashion shown him, gave the rod
two or three good swishes in the air, the line flying out well behind,
and then with all his might he made a tremendous down-stroke, whose
effect was to send the fly right across the pool and on to the black
stone, where it caught and held on.

"Drop your rod!" roared Tavish. "Na, na, the point, laddie, the point!"

Tavish was just in time. Another moment, and the rod would have all
been in the river. As it was, only the point splashed in, and as the
line was slackened the hook fell over sideways and then glided slowly
down the side of the rock and dropped lightly into the pool, to go
gliding round.

Splash!

"Up wi' the rod, laddie! up wi' the point o' your rod, laddie!" cried
Tavish excitedly. "She's cot ta fush--she's cot ta fush!"

Max obeyed, and raised the point of his rod, and then felt a tremendous
tug, which sent an electric shock through him.

"She's cot him! she's cot him!" cried Tavish, dancing about on the shore
and waving the gaff hook he held. "Noo, my laddie, never let the fush
rin without feeling your han'."

Max heard the forester's shout, but hardly comprehended his words in the
excitement of feeling the fish he had hooked dart here and there from
side to side of the black-looking pool, and keeping so tight a line that
all at once there was a flash of silver, and a goodly salmon leaped
right out of the water and fell with a great splash.

"Ah, she's gone!" cried Tavish, stamping with rage. "Nay, hold on! Let
her rin the noo. An' dinna catch haud too tight o' the line."

Max was too confused to obey his instructions, but, fortunately, he did
the right thing. For the fish darted away so furiously that the lad
loosed his hold upon the line to a great extent, and contented himself
by keeping the hard plait close to the rod, so that it was checked a
g