DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 213 



trouting prospects were none too bright and in this 

 he was confirmed by a further conversation during 

 dinner with the angler who had addressed him in 

 the lobby who informed him : " This is a jolly 

 place, but the lake on which reliance for sport is 

 placed had rendered up most of its white trout before 

 I came and the few remaining ones seem proof 

 against all lures though I have tried them at break 

 of dawn and at dusky eve. But the landlord, you 

 know, is such a jolly hopeful fellow, and he says 

 that we only want rain and the lake will be full of 

 them again. It is not quite right to discourage 

 you, perhaps, but you were sure to find it out." 

 " Thank you very much," said Harry, "you have 

 saved us time." 



There can be but few who have pitied those fly- 

 fishers who deem all other sports inferior and un- 

 worthy of their notice more than I have done. I 

 would sooner hunt rats than kick my heels waiting 

 and waiting for what does not come until my chance 

 has flown. I suppose they think that the superiority, 

 the delicacy, and, to put it in a word, the Art of fly- 

 fishing makes it sacrilege for its votaries to worship 

 at any other shrine. Let them try spinning a lure 

 in rapid rivers, combing rocks from behind which a 

 salmon will not move and could not take your bait 

 were he so inclined unless offered to him as no mere 

 tyro can. That fish will not take a fly for weeks to 

 come, so, just for once, Mr Fly-fisher, take my rod 

 and cast my bait, and you will find that spinning 

 needs much learning, for, without it, you will lose 

 many a bait and catch no fish. I love my fly-rod 

 and I have taught each of my sons to walk your 

 path with some skill and they know that therein lies 



