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DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 101 



"Do you hear that, my boy? I shall be able 

 to look at it again when I get it home." 



I was too busy to talk beyond asking for one 

 of the largest baits, which I put on a snap and cast 

 it well out and then handed the doctor his rod. 

 " Please don't waste time, friend ; up you get," and 

 I gave him a helping hand. 



"Get to work yourself, my boy, catch a fish 

 like mine and then talk to me that have got a 

 twenty-four pounder." 



I was busy getting ready when I heard him say : 

 "Where's my float gone?" and, in reply, the 

 keeper hurriedly remarked : " It's gone, sir, and I 

 wouldn't be surprised 



The fisher did not wait to hear further but struck 

 excitedly and with violence sufficient to dislocate 

 a jaw and more than sufficient to rid himself of 

 the half-pound dace I had put upon his hook, and, 

 when he found his line come too easily in answer to 

 his drawing, he exclaimed : 



" I'm smashed, old man ; the beggar has gone off 

 with all the lot." 



"Did you feel it? Was it heavy?" were the 

 only questions that I asked, but I supplemented 

 them with : " Next time your float goes under 

 tighten your line and wait until you feel a stronger 

 pull than your bait can give." 



My friend was in great form after the taking 

 of his first fish and, when he got a second of nine 

 ounds before I had a run, he had much to say. 



e became quite eloquent on the merits of stiff 

 rods, and wound that subject up by asking me : 

 " What's the use of a rod that grips if it does no 

 ripping ? " and then, without waiting for reply, he 



