DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 247 



left to right in answer to the cacklings of her hand- 

 some brood, so she did not see the ambHng trot of 

 the game old soul behind. I wondered, I could not 

 help it, if the dear old lad}^ had much to leave or 

 was dependent on those in front, ihe fishers' cap- 

 tures were not nimierous, but sufficient lor all to 

 have trout for dinner each day and to set tongues 

 wagging that told much of how the day had been 

 spent. The delay of the aunt in coming to these 

 meals caused me to wonder more than once if she 

 had been left upon the road, and, from exhaustion, 

 had fallen into a ditch whence, like the claret-loving 

 college don who fell between the graves in a church- 

 yard, she was unable to get up and, hke him, had 

 foldeJd her hands upon her breast and said, resignedly, 

 *I suppose I shall rise with the rest.' I was so worried 

 by such thoughts that when she did appear I felt 

 vexed with her for having made me anxious, and 

 I understood why a mother beats the child who has 

 narrowly escaped some peril of the street. 



It is pleasant to wake with brain refreshed and 

 body willing to undertake the tasks that have been 

 planned beforehand, as then there is no worrying 

 thought of probable vexatious waste of time. First 

 hours were thought so much of in my youth, and have 

 given me so much better service in life than later ones, 

 that I think a day ill spent the first half of which has 

 not called forth an effort that deserved approval. 

 So it was overnight I made arrangements for a boat and 

 two men to go for pollack. This was fortunate, for 

 the landlord would have assigned to us but one, as 

 the fish are plentiful very near home. My chart 

 had shown me that the bay was shallow, so, while 

 I was in no way doubting that fish were numerous, 

 my experience told me they would be lacking much 

 in size. Our host did not like my suggestion that tiie 

 fish must be small, and said, *No ! gentlemen fre- 

 quently bring home large ones, four and sometimes 



