68 WINTER TALKS ON SUMMER PASTIMES. 



his fish from the rock from which he had slipped. The line 

 was kept taut, and the tip of the rod bent as gracefully while 

 the angler was submerged as when he regained his footing. 

 It was a fine illustration of the ruling passion, and I was as 

 glad as if 1 had done it myself, when our friend landed a 

 three-pound trout as the result of his judicious manipulation 

 under difficulties. By the way, D., did you ever find your 

 hat?" 



* 'Yes, half a mile below, and none the worse for the journey, 

 But since you have begun to 'tell tales out of school/ I have 

 a mind to give you a Roland for your Oliver. " 



"Let's have it; let's have it," from all sides. "Bob will 

 not object." 



"Not I, for I am sure nothing can be said about my ang- 

 ling adventures which will not redound to my infinite 

 credit." 



"We had been leisurely floating down the Raquette. on 

 such a day as rendered one quite indifferent to any past or 

 any coming event except the going down of the sun. It 

 was just such a day as one would like to have last forever. 

 As we floated, we cast hither aiid thither, from no special 

 desire to get a rise, but simply that our well-balanced rods 

 might share in the inexpressible felicity of those who wielded 

 them. It was well on in the afternoon when we touched 

 the head of the long rapids near the Oxbow in old times 

 one of the best points for large trout, and plenty of them, 

 on the river. My friend here was the first to get a rise, 

 and was doing his best to land him at the head of the pool. 

 But the fish and the current combined were too strong for 

 him, and while both guide and angler were more Intent 

 upon the fish than upon their surroundings, the boat floated 

 sideways against a projecting treetop, and was upset in the 

 twinkling of an eye. Tbe water was rather more than 

 shoulder deep ; but before I could cross over to help him, my 

 friend had reached terra firma, while the guide was swim- 

 ming with the current to overtake his boat. It is proper to 

 say that Bob kept his temper, although he lost his rod." 



"I remember those rapids very well/' said another of our 



