BROWN WATERS 



towards or away from a risen fish, and 

 lie would not be disappointed of a suit- 

 able commentary upon his splendid, un- 

 failing endowment of stupidity. This 

 abounding quality had a chance to dis- 

 close itself also in the netting of fish. 

 What can be more annoying than to lose 

 a good trout after you have hooked him 

 with difficulty, played him carefully, 

 and brought him exhausted to the side 

 of the canoe ? Your part is performed, 

 your duty done ; all further responsibil- 

 ity rests upon the boy, whom you will 

 assist in his task with a stream of coun- 

 sel. Should he fail through precipitancy 

 or undue slowness, or through attempt- 

 ing to net by the tail instead of the head, 

 or by the head when it was an obvious 

 case for the tail exception, or if he 

 touches the line, or doesn't touch it when 

 anyone but a fool would have seen that 

 it was the right thing to do, why there 

 and then and in every event you have 

 your boy, and you must indeed be a per- 

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