CHAPTER xxin. 

 SPLIT BAMBOO FLY-RODS. 



READER, have you ever had the misfortune to be caught 

 in a provincial town, where you have no acquaintances, 

 by such a wet day as confines you, nolens volem, to the 

 limited accommodation of your hotel ? Such has been 

 my luck twice, and the minutes, seconds, and hours on 

 each occasion appeared at least double the length oi 

 those of ordinary times. Such a miserable ordeal was 

 almost forced upon me a month or two since ; in fact, 

 I had almost made up my mind to spend the interven- 

 ing time between lunch and dinner with a book and 

 pipe, when the constant interruptions I suffered from 

 the impudent, obtrusive servants drove me to a state of 

 desperation, so, seizing my hat and umbrella, I sallied 

 forth, scarcely knowing where to direct my steps to 

 obtain a few hours' peace and amusement. Suddenly, 

 I was struck with the idea, Why not go down to 

 Messrs. Clerk and Co., Maiden Lane, and see what 



