302 AN OPEN CREEL 



and never did watercress, home-made bread, and rich 

 country butter savour better ; never was hot tea more 

 grateful and refreshing. And after it there were 

 several hours, and those the best of the working day, 

 in which to try for a possible trout and a probable 

 perch. 



The tackle seized so hurriedly was rather a mixed 

 assortment, the spinning-rod being old and a bit 

 broken in the back, and the artificial minnows being in 

 various stages of venerable age and decrepitude. The 

 reel and line, however, were dependable, and one of 

 the traces seemed sound, though it was finer than is 

 advisable when a five-pound trout is not a thing 

 unknown. One must do one's best with what one 

 has, so before long the light one-inch Devon, which 

 was most sound in gut and bindings, was searching a 

 clear, deep run between two beds of weeds. Immedi- 

 ately something came at it with a bang, hooked itself, 

 and got into the weeds before any persuasion could be 

 used with the rod. And in the weeds it stayed for 

 several minutes, to emerge at last by dint of vigorous 

 hand-lining a miserable little jack of about one pound, 

 which almost deserved to die for its impertinence, but 

 was spared by reason of its youth. 



After the jack came a nice perch out of a deep hole 

 under the bank, and after that another little pike to be 

 returned. Then on a broad shallow a fine trout made 

 a good wave as it followed the minnow for several 

 yards; but it was merely the semblance of a run. 

 Though the line was drawn in steadily without increase 

 or lessening of speed, the old fish was not to be 

 deceived, and the minnow came home untouched. A 



