6o DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



from which I had taken the others, some pecking at 

 overhanging grasses, others catching and mouthing 

 floating trifles, ejecting them again when done with. 

 There were strong ones doing fancy tricks that weaker 

 ones tried in vain to emulate. I did my best to induce 

 the lady to take the rod and help herself to minnows, 

 but she sat down on the grass, folded her hands, and 

 said, 'If you don't mind I would prefer to sit and 

 watch.' 



The nervous tension caused by all and sundry of 

 these circumstances so magnified the importance of 

 success that it could scarcely have been greater had 

 I been trying a second cast over a salmon that had 

 been rested after a rise. Fancy the ridiculousness of 

 the scene ! Here was a loving wife sitting in judgment 

 on her husband's capabilities in the art of angling 

 by his success or failure to catch a minnow. The 

 husband was at full length amongst the high grass 

 with only so much of the arm, that held the two joints 

 of a rod, hanging out over the high bank as might be 

 mistaken for a boy's. My crawling to this position 

 was much approved and elicited, 'Well stalked, Phil.' 



The impaled bead of paste was seized directly 

 it reached the water and a fish was hooked; but 

 to get him on the bank — the line being long and 

 the rod short — a good round swing of my arm was 

 necessary. Up it came, and, as I rolled over to follow 

 my swinging arm, I saw the fish continue its flight much 

 beyond the measure of my snare, so I was quickly up 

 and searching the spot where it had dropped. Nell 

 helloed and spoke kind words of commiseration, but 

 Vv^e did not find the treasure. After that we were part- 

 ners again; she stood expectant, and each time I sang 

 out, as I rolled over, 'Here he comes,' she watched the 

 flight and captured the minnow. 



It was now my turn to wait on a fisher who, full 

 of expectation that the bold biting perch would be 

 waiting her coming, grew quickly astonished at her 



