i64 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



A day came when my finger tips wanted breathing 

 on, and, as I met the need, I looked skyw^ards for 

 the cause; to find that the weeping clouds that had 

 come from south-lying Dnunmond Hill had given 

 place to others that were coming from cold Schiehal- 

 lion. It grew very nippy, and again I had to throw 

 warm breath on my icy fingers preparatory to another 

 start, only to find the inner circiunference of the rod 

 rings filled with ice. My gilllie breathed on each 

 block in turn until liis fingers could nip them out; 

 this done, I made another start and got half-way 

 down the pool before the rings needed his breath once 

 more. John did his duty and then looked at me — 

 I did not appear to notice — in a modest way, first 

 at my feet, then upwards, and, when he reached my 

 eye, he smiled and said encouragingly : *I have known 

 you catch them later, sir, and do you mind when 

 your rings were frozen and a big salmon was on you 

 dipped your rod in the water with the hope of thawing 

 them? You got the fish/ 'So I did, John. WTio 

 cares for frost or cold so long as the river runs and 

 the minnow spins?' 



Snow on the rocks down to the river's edge and 

 snow between the rocks, hiding the dangers that an 

 unguarded step might make painfully evident, made 

 our movements slow and, at times, undignified owing 

 to the necessity for progression on all fours or by 

 sliding on what Nature intended for sitting on and< 

 maybe, birching. Work is a mild word for walking 

 miles on slippery snow v/here each three feet forward 

 is lessened by a backward slide. 



I was perched on the highest rock in the Elm Tree 

 Pool when a fish rose to the surface of the bubbling 

 rush and showed his length and breadth as he turned 

 to dive \\dth his prize. The frozen line threw off its 

 beads of ice as it raced through the rings in answer 

 to the fish's rush and leap. 'Should we lower the rod 

 top when the salmon is in the air?' is frequently dis- 



