DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 115 



relieved; at any rate he drew a long breath before 

 saying, ' 'Twas a grayling, was it? Well, well, that 

 bitch could tell me most things, she could; and now 

 she's dead, sir, shot by a London gent who never 

 fired his gun oi? till lunch-time. Tom and me were 

 saying, "Something'U fall when that gun does go off." 

 Shot dead she was, close at my feet, and Ward — you 



know Ward, sir — he says, "And a d d lucky job 



as it weren't yerself, Jim." I could have knocked the 

 gent down when he fired that gun, but it weren't 

 needed; I never saw a man go so white, and I think 

 he would have dropped had not the governor been 

 quick in getting a gent's flask and giving him the end 

 of it full. If 5'ou had heard the governor talk to him 

 you wouldn't forget it; you would have thought that 

 the shooting of that dog was the greatest favour he 

 could possibly have done him, and it brought the man 

 round to a tear or two. I seed them as he handed me 

 a piece of gold, and I thought as a gentleman as could 

 feel for a dumb animal hke that wasn't all bad.' 



I expressed my regret at his loss, and my son, 

 while impatiently handling his rod, said, 'What 

 a pity !' and then added, 'November days are short 

 and the flies may cease to rise at any moment, so 

 let's be off, dad. I will go beyond the point while you 

 begin where you left off.' 



Cleverer men than I say that more is to be done 

 with grayhng with an up-stream cast, but, after much 

 experience, I am content with a little up and across, 

 straight across, and across and a little down, all without 

 a movement of the foot. The vibration of our foot- 

 steps warn the fish quite as much as a sight of our 

 doings. So keep down, tread lightly, and fish as fine 

 as you may dare while lea\ing hope of strength suffi- 

 cient to hold the prize you covet. Try never to forget, 

 though I sometimes do, that there are as many fish 

 near the bank on this side as on the other. I\Iany 

 somewhat experienced anglers throw their fly as if 



