THE BROKEN ROD. 137 



rod is absolutely sound and fit for use. If the break, how- 

 ever, is a clean, short one, whittle the two ends until they 

 fit closely and diagonally, put " Bindall " on the two 

 surfaces, and proceed as before. 



If the rod be a cane one, it will not be likely to 

 break, but merely to spring, most often in two or three 

 segments on one side. In such a case, place two quills on 

 the weaker side of the rod, and one on the other. These, 

 combined with a good strong whipping over all, will render 

 your rod perfectly fit for use. If you care to make a neater 

 job when you reach your fishing quarters at night, a 

 little hot water will dissolve the " Bindall," and you can 

 then make a more perfect mend of the break, and quite 

 sufficient to last until you see your rod-maker again. 



It may be necessary to place a third or fourth section 

 of the quills on the rod, but as they fit closely together 

 and are very light, they don't in any way interfere with 

 the pleasurable use of the rod. 



If you have not broken a part of your own rod, others 

 may not have been so lucky, and you can help them, and, 

 as the revered father of Huck Finn said, " a good action 

 ain't never forgot." I remember meeting a man wandering 

 beside a trout stream in Devonshire who told me he had 

 knocked off fishing for the day, having broken his top joint. 

 Luckily, I had my repair case with me, and, to his delight, 

 in about fifteen minutes' time his rod was spliced, and he 

 was fishing again, and, as he told me afterwards, my repairs 



