48 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



hopes and plannings for the morrow's doings. Our 

 coming there was most opportune, for the weir-pool 

 was full of life, which was with great suddenness added 

 to by the rise and rush in chase of quite a large trout. 

 Our host was delighted at this and said, 'How would 

 that one do for you, my boy? It's no good looking 

 at your watch. He'll be there to-morrow and* — with 

 a wink — 'perhaps the day after.' 



It was glorious to wake at dawn after a vivid dream 

 in which I saw the fish again chasing little fish in all 

 directions and, fearing he would not see the one upon 

 my hook, I moved it seductively to and fro until there 

 was a mighty swirl close to it and, after that — a long 

 time after — the line tightened and I knew I had 

 him on. 



Our hostess had placed a jug of milk, a loaf, and 

 a plate of butter on the table in response to my 

 whispered information that I should steal away and 

 have an early try for a fish and be back to breakfast. 

 I have drunk the milk and shall eat the bread and 

 butter as I go. 



To tramp off brimful of imaginings of hungry 

 fish seeking their morning meal, at an hour when 

 the vitality of our mind is at its fullest, is to give 

 rosy hues to our ambition. My legs, to keep pace 

 with my thoughts, broke their walk and, when I 

 discovered this, I said, 'I will not run although there 

 is no fear of a witness to my hurrying; I am in an 

 unpeopled world as yet; but it is unwise to commence 

 to fish when heated and flurried; it would be better 

 to walk leisurely and watch the gray dawn grow into 

 day. See how the bowl of the sky grows, and presently 

 the sun's forerunners will be here to disperse the 

 misty curtain that still hides the tree-tops, and then 

 the birds will warble their welcome to the coming day.' 

 \\'aking noises came singly, from here and there, at 

 first, and then grev/ in number until they came from 

 everywhere, and there was one great hum of joy, and 



