126 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



With the aid of long legs and long boots Phil 

 parted the screen that hid the river and then, with 

 a fair field once more, the fight soon ended and we 

 marched out to more solid ground to view our 

 prize two pounds eleven ounces. Up to now 

 Phil had been too preoccupied to see or smell me 

 but, when the opportunity came and we were face 

 to face, I heard him sniff and saw him look at me. 

 Then his face slowly broadened out with the middle 

 of his tongue filling the opening from which laughter 

 tried in vain to force its way. I was very glad when 

 this first portion of the fit was over and was much 

 relieved when it sobered down to a wholesome laugh 

 and I could ask him if I smelt so bad as that. 

 " Worse," was his reply as he started off into fit 

 number two. At last, quite soberly, we went to 

 the river's edge and I was cleaned as near as might 

 be, and then, with gear and all, carried back, pick- 

 a-back, across the ditch. 



Midges, by this time, were answering the lovely 

 morning's invitations and rings, in all directions, 

 which lost their roundness on the little waves, 

 showed that the fish were eager to avail themselves 

 of their opportunities. The fish were eager and so 

 was that son of mine for he is at all times as keen 

 as were his sporting forebears and, to add to it on 

 this occasion, he had his new rod to try, given him 

 by a lady who fishes here, knows what is best to 

 use and how to use it, and who would be likely to 

 ask how the rod answered. I can answer for that 

 rod, for at times it did more to keep me occupied 

 than my own. The wielder of it protested mildly 

 that he could manage well with his own net, but it 

 grew upon me that he rather liked me to be a 



