DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 49 



the earth itself seemed freshly glad to respond with 

 a springy lift to each footstep. 



It will occur to a fisherman sometimes during the 

 journey out to wonder if he is leaving aught behind 

 that he should have with him. This thought was 

 so strong within me as I neared the weir that I had 

 ultimately to stop and turn my basket out, only to 

 find that all I was likely to need was there. Even 

 after that I became unsatisfied again and m}^ dis- 

 satisfaction grew until I felt sure that when I reached 

 the water I should find myself minus an essential for 

 commencing work. My relief was great when at last 

 I remembered it was the little lady, from whose side 

 I had stolen while she slept, that I had left behind, 

 and I laughed so loudly at this discovery that a startled 

 blackbird left his roost with a severely rebuking 

 'Clang, clang, clang.' 



A breathing time amongst such scenes in the early 

 hours points its silent moral, and the peace and rest 

 it gives should make us as fit as fiddles. I was feeling 

 very fit as I approached the moss-covered, wooden 

 structure, that so pleasingly nestles amongst high 

 trees and overhanging bushes. It is a joy to look on 

 it, and you are sure to wish while doing so that the 

 dear old weir may serve its purpose for long years to 

 come before giving way to an ugly, modern substitute. 

 To my mind the picture it m.akes is worth a day's 

 travelling to get a sight of, for man's handiwork has 

 grown with age to fit and match with Nature so per- 

 fectly as to almost destroy the fines of difference. 

 There is a special joy for the angler who looks beneath 

 the surface of its bubbling waters, for there he wall see 

 the heads of wooden piles that vexed poachers long 

 since dead, and that are a terror still to those who 

 try to net the trout for which the pool is noted. 



A misty vapour formed from the falling water 

 glided down the pool and gathered into a cloud that 

 hid the surface of the water and the branches above 



