DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 79 



water eddies quite bustlingly where the stream 

 strikes its outer edge, while near the bank it goes 

 in amongst the sedge and rush with scarce a breath 

 of movement. It gurgles and tumbles through the 

 sluice gates, eddies and foams at the tail of the 

 pool there, and then glides off smoothly, carrying 

 with it tenderly the newly made flecks of foam. 



It is the never-ending variety of features that 

 our rivers have that fascinates and brings back 

 memories of red-letter days 'midst similar scenes 

 with comrades whose faces stand revealed with 

 open lips as if to speak. My memory of those who 

 made up our reaching parties needs no such aid. 

 I see them now crowding round Mrs Ted, who is 

 offering ends of rolled-up papers, the contents of 

 which sent Jack upsteam, Ted down and left me 

 the middle beat. 



Jack was one amongst the many practical fishers 

 of my acquaintance who had no faith in luck : 

 "Another name for laziness, my boy," was his 

 description of it ; so he was a sticker hard to beat 

 when he settled down with his long bamboo. 

 Although a great favourite with the ladies in the 

 intervals for lunch and tea they deserted him 

 quickly for Ted when the contest was really on, as 

 they could not understand his answers, if answers 

 they got, to their most bewitching notes when once 

 his little red-tipped quill began to travel down his 

 swim. 



Ted was very lucky and believed in luck so 

 steadfastly that he did the silliest things imagin- 

 able to give it a chance of happening, and, strange 

 to say, luck so often came to him that he was never 

 surprised nor startled but accepted whatever it 



