24 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



dulled, and your rod is laid aside while you think a bit 

 or call a comrade to your side to view tlie picture that 

 stays your han-i. I called my companion and, while 

 climbing to assist her down, I cleared a passage of its 

 smnmer growth to let her see that \\-ith some aid the 

 journey might be attempted. When she was safely 

 by the pool, I laid my coat upon the overhanging rock 

 to coax her to stretch herself upon it that she might 

 peep as I had done, and soon we were lying side by 

 side, with our chins resting on our wTists, peering 

 down into a little world of wonders, made more 

 wondrous by the doubling shadows of the fish that came 

 within the sunlit spaces. Flecks of foam, stray leaves, 

 and twirling dimples, came sailing down as if in full 

 enjoyment of some purpose, and the golden pebbles 

 over which they floated took note of them by blinking. 

 Birds, suspicious of our intent, made lame fluttering 

 flights so close to us that we could not but know 

 that they had treasures near, which they would draw 

 us from. 



After a short stay I helped my partner up the 

 high bank again, and then travelled from pool to 

 pool, getting a trout or two from most of them, until, 

 in answer to my call that I was moving on, I was 

 told a hedge and wide ditch prevented her further 

 progress. I answered back : 'I am coming,' so as to 

 sta}" any attempt at leaping, and hastened to climb; 

 but, in my haste, I slipped back and should have had 

 a nastv fall had it not been for a check in mv slide 

 that rent m\' trousers sadly. I had so recently been 

 mended that I was inchncd to conceal this last mis- 

 fortune, but on feeling for it realised it was useless to 

 hope to hide such an opening as I had made, so I 

 dodged a bit, but she smiled a smile that plainly 

 said: 'What is it now?' I showed her, and she 

 exclaimed : 'Oh, dear, I can't m.end this. Why, you 

 have torn a big piece out. This makes three pairs you 

 have spoilt already. I think we had better give up 



