DOWN STREAM 



which you cannot withstand in the deep 

 pool farther down. 



Because you are wise with the re- 

 membered wisdom of boyhood, you have 

 left at home the expensive rod and reel. 

 Just back from the swamp edge is a 

 birch jungle where young trees stand 

 as thick as canes in a Cuban brake. 

 Here you find your pole; as large as 

 your thumb at the butt, tapering, 

 straight, clean and strong, fifteen feet to 

 the tip. Cut it and trim the limbs from 

 it and bend to it your ten feet of stout 

 line at the end of which is a hook 

 whose curve is as big as that of your 

 little finger nail. A cork that would fit 

 a quart bottle will fit your line if you 

 gash it with your pocket knife and slip 

 the line in the gash. It will hold 

 wherever you put it, yet you may slide 

 it up and down at will. For the pool 

 93 



