50 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



it at the far end, so I had to give some thought as to 

 where my lure would fall when I should cast in that 

 direction. First I tried near the bush I had hidden 

 behind, which commands a miniature foaming rush 

 that twiddles round a green-headed, sunken pile. I had 

 put my rod and tackle together some little distance 

 off, for the vibrations of one's footsteps are more cdarm- 

 ing to the fish than sound; so imagine I have crept 

 with watchful step and softest tread to make my cast 

 across the seething water. In answer to it a fish rose. 

 I saw his huge spotted sides as he turned twice to 

 seize my lure, but I did not get him. There remained 

 the satisfaction that I had not snatched with hasty 

 hope that he had the bait : so probably I had not 

 alarmed him. Evidently not, for after a pause I cast 

 again and as I watched the silver-coated lure coming 

 across the churning water a dark form hid it for 

 a moment and then the burnished side of a turning 

 trout flashed a light that enabled me to see the size 

 of the fish as it dived and tugged the Une. Yes, I had 

 the monster on, for a turn of my wrist and his deep 

 dive caused him to feel the hook and rush in temper, 

 with shaking" head, twice round the pool, and then 

 fling himself high above the water, so near me that I 

 saw his form in detail, and I had more anxiety and 

 desire to have him than I shall feel for my next dozen 

 uncraftily-wild, rushing salmon. Hook a salmon, 

 and the odds are eight to one the fish is yours, but the 

 odds are the other way when you have hooked a trout 

 on fine tackle in one of the old weir-pools of the Upper 

 Thames. There is an apron to which the fish may come 

 and cut the line upon its edge. There are piles studded 

 here and there round which he has loved to swim, 

 feeling secure while near them. Still I have him on, 

 and he is much less violent than at first, and, with 

 the exception of his once being round a pile for a 

 moment, we have been on excellent terms, primarily, 

 I must confess, because the weighty brute has had 



