"Flower in the crannied wall,"

and reflected that if I should succeed in plucking out this flower,
"root and all," it would probably result in an even greater increase
of knowledge than the poet contemplated.

The ledge in the rock now came to an end.  But below me in the pool
there was a sunken reef; and on this reef a long log had caught,
with one end sticking out of the water, within jumping distance.  It
was the only chance.  To go back would have been dangerous.  An
angler with a large family dependent upon him for support has no
right to incur unnecessary perils.

Besides, the fish was waiting for me at the upper end of the pool!

So I jumped; landed on the end of the log; felt it settle slowly
down; ran along it like a small boy on a seesaw, and leaped off into
shallow water just as the log rolled from the ledge and lunged out
into the stream.

It went wallowing through the pool and down the rapid like a playful
hippopotamus.  I watched it with interest and congratulated myself
that I was no longer embarked upon it.  On that craft a voyage down
the Unpronounceable River would have been short but far from merry.
The "all ashore" bell was not rung early enough.  I just got off,
with not half a second to spare.

But now all was well, for I was within reach of the fish.  A little
scrambling over the rocks brought me to a point where I could easily
cast over him.  He was lying in a swift, smooth, narrow channel
between two large stones.  It was a snug resting-place, and no doubt
he would remain there for some time.  So I took out my fly-book and
prepared to angle for him according to the approved rules of the
art.