240 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



shop and then, with the aid of a gimlet, got it intJ the 

 end of a broom handle. I was just a trifle prcud as 

 I marched back to that careless son of mine who still 

 persists that it was I who was most responsible for 

 our needing that meat-hook gaff. 



Pat Jennings's promise of sport had been given 

 subject to the weather's pleasure, as though he was 

 fearing the change that came and prevented our 

 putting out to sea on either of the two foLbwing days. 

 So violent was the \\ind that we fished the most 

 sheltered lake for trout with the utmost difficulty 

 on the first day and with poor result — nine fish between 

 us; but on the second we found the stili high wind had 

 changed a point and aided us to cover spots we could 

 not reach the day before, and we had sport that 

 pleased us much — twenty-two fish, in weight from 

 half a pound to one and three quarter pounds. 



The third morning was a glorious one, and soon 

 dispelled all thought of the violence which had pre- 

 ceded it. The sea had but soft, oily waves where 

 before huge, white-crested ones had tumbled and 

 hissed, and the blue haze that capped the distant 

 hills gave assurance that summer was with us yet. 



Pat was punctual and we were soon on board, speed- 

 ing on our way, favoured by a wind that followed. 



Pat had a little store of eels for bait which he showed 

 by hfting them and then allowing them to wriggle 

 back through his fingers to the bucket. I gladly 

 accepted this earnest of his desire to do his best, for 

 I have known a professional fisherm.an happily satis- 

 fied when the only provision he has made for sport 

 has been a half -gallon jar of beer. 



The satisfaction of our guide in his lines and bait 

 caused me to hesitate to show ours, but they had 

 to come to view, and it was as I feared; Pat looked 

 and hstened as a man does when a child displays his 

 toys. Holding the tiller pressed between his arm and 

 side he put the tail of a slaughtered eel upon his hook, 



