DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 53 



This proved, as it often does, fatal to the following 

 fish. 



It is a strange fact, attested to by a number of 

 my friends, that, while playing a fish that ultimately 

 escapes, a fisher will often have a presentiment of 

 what is about to happen. I had certainly momen- 

 tarily expected the loss of the big fish while I have 

 great hopes of this the smaller one. Were it not 

 that even this gives me anxious care the battle would 

 be too one-sided for the joy I shall feel should I suc- 

 ceed. Judging by what I saw of him when he leaped 

 at the end of his first rush, that almost took him to 

 the bushes from which the flies had fallen, he is at 

 least five pounds, and his boring to the bottom on his 

 return to deeper water gave me opportunity to put 

 on a strain that told of quite that weight. 



Again he did the journey to the bush and his tail 

 flicked amongst the leaves of the slim sprouts that 

 bend to the water's surface, but no entanglement 

 came of that, and he Wcis steadily coming my way 

 again to get all the strain I dared. I felt he was 

 making for the apron and did all I could to lift him 

 above the water that eddies back beneath the rush 

 so that he might have rough water to contend with. 

 I was just in time to get "his nose above what he in- 

 tended to go under, and his momentum took him among 

 the silky weeds that coat the apron. He nosed among 

 them as if to hide from a foe he had left behind, but, 

 after much expense of strength, he ultimately dropped 

 back. He was never given another chance to get 

 deeply down, so he could only struggle to the limit of 

 my permission, until his mouth opened against the 

 stream, where he was held until he turned upon his 

 side ready for the net. 



A vain man's vanity, unlike a woman's, is immeasur- 

 able, but I think there should be some pardon for 

 such an ancient form of it as being puffed up at the 

 smiUug welcome of her whose smiles we covet on our 



