TSE END OF TSE SEASON. 115 



took precedence of work, and within a couple of hours 

 "we both were in the train on a fifty-mile ride termi- 

 nating with a seven miles' drive in place of a hors 

 d'oeuvre at the commencement of dinner. 



Our quarters were ready and likewise a good square 

 meal^ which was not amiss ; and by a slice of luck our 

 arrangements, which were all made by wire, came off 

 to the letter. 



We had telegraphed to London for new waders and 

 brogues, to the Inn for rooms and dinner, to a friend 

 in a neighbouring town for licences and tickets, to a 

 tackle-maker for casts, to the station-master to order a 

 trap, and, strange to say, everything went right without 

 hitch of any sort, which we felt bound to accept as an 

 omen of good luck. 



The water, we had previously ascertained, was in 

 pretty good order; and although information on this 

 subject is sometimes rather misleading, especially when 

 it happens to be supplied by interested parties, we 

 found in this instance it was pretty correct, as although 

 decidedly on the big side, the colour in all probability 

 would be good the next day ; so after our meal we set 

 to work in getting our rods and tackle in order, and as 

 the new waders were not to arrive until the morrow 

 we took the precaution of testing the old pair by the aid 

 of the pump, which was fortunate, as they " lecked '* 

 terribly, so the remainder of the evening was passed in 

 the manipulation of them, liquid india-rubber and 

 pieces of an old sponge bag, the disagreeable odour 



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