The Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail | Page 9

the pool, it broke again into turbulent raging, brawling its way to the Big Horn below.
Mandy could hardly wait for the unloading and tethering of the ponies.
"Now," she cried, when all was ready, "for my very first fish. How shall I fling this hook and where?"
"Try a cast yonder, just beside that overhanging willow. Don't splash! Try again--drop it lightly. That's better. Don't tell me you've never cast a fly before."
"Never in my life."
"Let it float down a bit. Now back. Hold it up and let it dance there. I'll just have a pipe."
But next moment Cameron's pipe was forgotten. With a shout he sprang to his wife's side.
"By Jove, you've got him!"
"No! No! Leave me alone! Just tell me what to do. Go away! Don't touch me! Oh-h-h! He's gone!"
"Not a bit. Reel him up--reel him up a little."
"Oh, I can't reel the thing! Oh! Oh-h-h! Is he gone?"
"Hold up. Don't haul him too quickly--keep him playing. Wait till I get the net." He rushed for the landing net.
"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? I won'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, I think."
"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,"