DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 129 



So I took it out and thought again. I was still 

 thinking when I saw a man and a black retriever, a 

 long way off as yet but coming nearer. Should I 

 throw the fish into the water and look not respons- 

 ible ? No ! that man will see something unusual in 

 the water and say " What's that ? " Shall I hide it ? 

 If so, where, that the retriever may not smell it ? I 

 have the most obstinate set of brains that will 

 sometimes, when I most need them, desert me 

 utterly. I could do nothing but nurse that fish 

 until the man and dog were within two hundred 

 yards, and then a most brilliant idea came to me. 

 I turned my back on them, wrapped my handker- 

 chief round the fish and put it in my pocket, and 

 then faced about and waited for the keeper's ' Good 

 morning.' But he added to it: 'Any sport, sir?' 

 Now I had not thought of any answer to this most 

 probable question so I had to think before I could 

 say : ' Well, not exactly sport. I've had an excite- 

 ment I hooked something but they went away 

 two of them did.' 



"The keeper looked first at me and then at his 

 dog, which was quietly enjoying the fact that a 

 cucumber-scented fish was in the pocket nearest 

 him, and, while he looked, a thought occurred to 

 me for which my brains were forgiven all else : ' I 

 did not see you, keeper, when I was down here last 

 so here is a double trifle.' The keeper departed 

 and I threw the fish into the plantation opposite, 

 which I should have done before had not my 

 coward conscience led me step by step into a stupid 

 fear of that knowing dog." 



" Here comes the keeper, dad," said Phil. " Talk 

 >f a certain gentleman and you'll see his horns." 



