IN A FISHING COUNTRY 



want.) There was malaise and fever for 

 three days, but the dose of poison brought 

 future immunity from swelling, — not, of 

 course, from being bitten. This is endur- 

 able, though unpleasant; no one enjoys be- 

 ing crawled over and explored by flies or 

 swallowing them. But a good oil, often 

 and freely applied, together with a reso- 

 lute abstention from soap and water, will 

 soon make one proof against any but the 

 most determined attacks. In the face of a 

 really serious offensive there is nothing for 

 it but to cut and run. 



An evening on the stream ominously 

 named the Riviere des Mouches comes to 

 mind, — warm, damp, windless, at the very 

 peak of the fjros coup de mouches. Oil 

 made no particle of difiference. The flies 

 invaded eyes, ears, nose; but, straddling a 

 smudge, gulping an occasional breath, one 

 could step forward a pace from time to 

 time, and make a few hurried casts. The 

 doleful and gory countenance of the boy 

 huddled over the fire suddenly fetched up 

 such a picture of my own wretched case 

 that we went leaping homeward like the 

 devil through Athlone, — before the rise 

 was over. It simply wasn't good enough. 

 Standards of comparison should be used 

 246 



