DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 19 



on land without a hook — and then there happened 

 what is unlikely to occur, but is much talked of when 

 it does — success at the first cast. A puff of wind 

 took the fly to the limit of the short line, and then 

 it dropped, in the centre of a ring just broadening 

 out, and a trout, which show^ed its yellow side, went 

 down with it and hooked himself securely. When her 

 prize was in the net the fisher remarked, 'Why, fly- 

 fishing is very simple. Let me try all by myself. 

 You sit dowTi and rest a bit.' 



I left her to herself and the fly went out very nicely 

 for a cast or two; then there was a movement of 

 the bracken at the rear which caused me to look 

 anxiously for the httle ring the fly would make if it 

 reached the water; and thus I learnt that it was 

 gone. I thought it best to keep this secret for a while 

 as the enjo^Tnent of her expectations was just as 

 great as if she had a dozen flies on, and it was such 

 good practice too. 



A well-directed cast towards a ring near the other 

 side caused me to say 'Splendid ! Draw off another 

 yard.' Thus encouraged, she worked until the active 

 arm so ached that a rest was needed, and I WcLS called 

 to take my turn. She looked at me for approval, 

 saw a glint of something in my eyes w^hich caused 

 her a moment's thought, and then remarked : 'You 

 want to laugh, but not to tell me why. Now^ Phil, 

 be fair, what is it?' I had to tell her, and then we 

 laughed together, had lunch, and commenced to fish 

 again. It was thus we fished and laughed the day 

 away, all too quickly, although we were out so late 

 as to be greeted on our return with, 'We thought 

 you be lost, me dears.' 



The sun had set, its glories reflected in scudding 

 clouds, which became thickly dotted as they passed 

 overhead by the complicated evolutions of a flock 

 of rooks that were twirling and soaring higher and 

 higher as they scented the coming storm. To windward 



