She felt something placed in her lap. "That's my fly hook," said he. "I'm asking you to look at it. Hundreds of them, and no two alike, and all the nineteen colors of the rainbow. I'm going to put on this one--see--it's dressed long and light, to look like a grasshopper. Queen of the Waters, they call it." "Listen!" said she suddenly, raising a finger. "What was that?" "What was it? Nothing in the world except the biggest grayling I ever saw! He broke up there just at the head of the pool where the water runs deep under the willows, just off the bar. If I can get this fly just above him--wait now--sit perfectly still where you are." He passed up the stream a few paces and began to cast, measuring the distance with the fly still in the air. She could hear the faint whistle of the line, and some idea of what he was doing came to her. And then she heard an exclamation, synchronous with a splash in the pool. "Got him!" said he. "And he's one sockdollager, believe me! We've got hold of old Grandpa Grayling now--and if things just hold----" "Here," said he after a while. She felt the rod placed in her hand, felt a strenuous tugging and pulling that almost wrenched it away. "Hold tight!" said he. "Take the line in your left hand, this way. Now, if he pulls hard, ease off. Pull in when you can--not too hard--he's got a tender mouth. Let him run! I want you to see what fun it is. Can't you see him out there now, jumping?" Tim, eager for any sport, sprang up and began to bark excitedly. Her lips parted, her eyes shining, sightless as they were, Mary faced toward the splashing which she heard. She spoke low, in a whisper, as though afraid of alarming the fish. "Where is he?" she said. "Where did he go?" "He's out there," responded her companion, chuckling. "He's getting rattled now. Don't hold him too tight--that's the idea--work him along easy now. Now shorten up your line a little bit, and sit right where you are. I'm going to net him. Lift the tip of the rod a little, please, and bring him in toward you." She obeyed as best she could. Suddenly she heard a splash, and felt a flopping object placed, net and all, directly in her lap. With eagerness she caught it in her hands, meeting Tim's towsley head, engaged in the same errand, and much disposed to claim the fish as all his own. "There's Grandpa!" said Doctor Barnes. "I've lost my bet to Sim Gage--that fellow will go over three pounds. I didn't know there was such a grayling in the world." "And now tell me," said he, as she felt him lift the fish from her lap, and with woman's instinct brushed away the drops of water from her frock, "isn't life worth living after all, when you have a day like this, and a sky such as we have, and sport like this?"