52 DAYS IN THE OPEN 



made of blankets and assured us that this would be 

 quite sufficient. Just before dawn the next morn- 

 ing, when the camp-fire had gone out and a pene- 

 trating chill was in the air, some of the party were 

 awakened by the movements of the Hardware 

 Man. He crawled out of his sleeping bag, arrayed 

 himself in his discarded garments, and when asked 

 what was the trouble declared, " I'm freezing. 

 One night of this is more than enough. My am- 

 bition is satisfied." 



That day was devoted to the alleged trout of In- 

 dependence River. From what the guide had told 

 us we had supposed that two-pounders were 

 impatiently waiting to be caught. We fished all 

 day and averaged half a trout apiece. Six ardent 

 fishermen managed to capture three trout, not all 

 of which would weigh two pounds. Evidently 

 something was wrong. Fortunately, explanations 

 abound when fish refuse to bite. It is too early or 

 too late in the season. We haven't the proper bait. 

 It is too warm or too cold. They were taking 

 everything offered last week, or they will begin bit- 

 ing next week. This time the fish had left the 

 stream and were gathered on the " spring-holes," 

 so the guide assures us, and we do not question his 

 pronunciamento. The trouble was that we 

 couldn't find any spring-holes. One thing the 

 Preacher did find for which he was not looking; 

 namely, a narrow escape from being shot. He had 

 made a short cut through the underbrush to strike 



