DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT iii 



to get him near, nor did I show him the butt, as either 

 of tl ese manoeuvres would aid him to get entangled in 

 the lushes just beyond my feet. I preferred to keep 

 him on a steady strain with the rod, at such an angle 

 as would best serve to keep him in midstream until 

 he had fought his fight. Those were my plans, but the 

 fish had others, in answer to which I had to follow him 

 down until I was hidden in a bed of rushes where, 

 while struggling with difficulties, I was glad to hear 

 a voice I knew ask me what I was doing there. With 

 the aid of long legs and long boots Phil parted the 

 screen that hid the river, and then, with a fair field 

 once more, the fight soon ended, and we marched out 

 to more soHd ground to view our prize — two pounds 

 eleven ounces. Up to now Phil had been too pre- 

 occupied to see or smell me, but, when the oppor- 

 tunity came and we were face to face, I heard him 

 sniff and saw him look at me. Then his face slowly 

 broadened out with the middle of his tongue filling 

 the opening from which laughter tried in vain to force 

 its way. I was very glad when this first portion of the 

 fit was over, and was much relieved when it sobered 

 down to a wholesome laugh and I could ask him if 

 I smelt so bad as that. 'Worse,' was his reply as he 

 started off into fit number two. At last, quite soberly, 

 we went to the river's edge, and I was cleaned as near 

 as might be, and then, with gear and all, carried back, 

 pick-a-back, across the ditch. 



]\Iidges, by this time, were answering the lovely 

 morning's invitations, and rings in all directions 

 which lost their roundness on the little waves, showed 

 that the fish were eager to avail themselves of their 

 opportunities. The fish were eager and so was that 

 son of mine, for he is at all times as keen as were his 

 sporting forebears, and, to add to it on this occasion, 

 he had his new rod to try, given him by a lady who 

 fishes here, knows what is best to use and how to use 

 it, and who would be likely to ask how the rod answered. 



