64 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



in freeing it, lost the lure. I was quick to be first 

 to speak, but only just in time, for my wife's lips 

 were parting as I commenced : 



" Hurrah ! the hook is safe ; you cleared it cleverly. 

 We can easily get more minnows but the hook is 

 just the size to hold big perch, as you will find when 

 you have one on." 



The opening lips closed as I commenced and 

 became so firmly set as I proceeded that a stranger 

 seeing them might have thought it a challenge to 

 me to try a burglar's jemmy to open them that is, if 

 he had not seen the dimples on the chin and the 

 suspicion of a sparkle in the corner of her eyes, which 

 said to me : " My turn will come." It came in the 

 tone of "Salt, please," to a waiter: " Minnows, 

 please, Phil." 



Shall I ever understand this little bag of mysteries? 

 Will it for ever be the unexpected that will happen ? 

 Shall I for ever be armour-plating and loading guns 

 and still remain defenceless ? 



" Minnows, please," was an innocent request if 

 viewed with my statement " We can easily get more," 

 but it assumed quite a different aspect judged by the 

 fact that she knew the three minnows she had lost 

 had cost a trifle over twenty minutes each to capture. 

 Hence the artfulness of " Minnows, please." 



I have never been able to understand the affinity 

 that exists between boys and minnows. You have 

 only to see a boy carrying a glass pickle jar of these 

 friends of his to observe how happy they are with 

 him and he with them. Of course I don't pretend 

 to say there is no love between men and minnows, 

 because they are distinctly a lovable little fish ; but 

 the fact remains that the only man I ever saw carry- 



