I am rather short-sighted, but science has its resources. Two or three
days after my encounter with this very shy sportsman, I went again to
Loch Nan. But this time I took with me a strong field-glass. As I
neared the crest of the low heathery slope immediately above the loch,
whence the water first comes into view, I lay down on the ground and
crawled like a deer-stalker to the skyline.
Then I got out the glass and reconnoitred. There was my friend, sure
enough; moreover, he was playing a very respectable trout. But he was
fishing on the near side of the loch, and though I had quite a distinct
view of his back, and indeed of all his attenuated form, I was as far as
ever from recognising him, or guessing where, if anywhere, I had seen him
before. I now determined to stalk him; but this was not too easy, as
there is literally no cover on the hillside except a long march dyke of
the usual loose stones, which ran down to the loch-side, and indeed three
or four feet into the loch, reaching it at a short distance to the right
of the angler. Behind this I skulked, in an eagerly undignified manner,
and was just about to climb the wall unobserved, when two grouse got up,
with their wild "cluck cluck" of alarm, and flew down past the angler and
over the loch. He did not even look round, but jerked his line out of
the water, reeled it up, and set off walking along the loch-side.
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