16 DAYS IN THE OPEN 



tickle the belly of the trout as they work their way 

 towards its head, and when they have encircled the 

 body at the gills they suddenly contract and the fish 

 is thrown far back upon the grass. This perform- 

 ance is repeated three or four times, and then the 

 trophies are gathered up in the jumper and with 

 blue pole over his shoulder the boy goes proudly 

 homeward. 



Many years after the boy had grown to manhood 

 he was riding with a friend on their way to a 

 famous trout preserve. Naturally, the conversa- 

 tion turned to fishing experiences, and he told the 

 story of the brook and of catching trout with his 

 hands. The friend looked a whole volume of in- 

 credulity and exclaimed, " Well, of all the fish-lies 

 I ever heard that takes the cake." When the club- 

 house was reached the keeper, a canny Scotchman, 

 was interviewed. " Andrew, did you ever hear of 

 catching trout with the hands ? " " Is it guddlin' 

 you mean? Mony a time. I've caught plenty of 

 'em in the burns when a boy." The skeptic was 

 silenced if not convinced. Since that time a 

 heated discussion of this mooted question has ap- 

 peared in a prominent sporting journal, and able 

 arguments have been adduced to prove the impos- 

 sibility of any such feat as that ascribed to the boy. 

 But he knows, and the brook knows, and the blue 

 pole knows; and those may doubt who will. 



" May I go fishin' down in the woods ? " The 

 question came from an anxious heart, and the boy 



