196 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



an attribute of youth only. The buoyancy of spirits 

 in these old warriors is no mere parody of youthful- 

 ness ; they actually feel that life is still immensely 

 enjoyable, and they are travelling North to wade, 

 if need be, knee-deep in snow or to their waists in 

 water for what they must have to satisfy their 

 annual craving for sport with spring salmon. 



Since last these aged youths had met they had 

 travelled far in search of sport : A C. J. and P. to 

 Lapland, W. to Norway, and G. to Ireland. Each 

 told his tale, and I believed all they said, and it was 

 very unkind of J., when I told of my Irish fish, to 

 suggest that I must have been baiting my hook 

 with whales. I should not have minded so much 

 had not his " whales " been such a stale joke. I 

 can always forgive J. most readily. The more he 

 puts me out the greater his peace offering. He 

 must have thought me terribly put out for almost 

 immediately he was asking my opinion of a rod 

 which he said was an i ift. 6 in. Grant Vibration rod 

 for spinning. His manner was just such as is usual 

 when he is smoothing down my ruffled plumes ; but 

 a Grant Vibration rod, which I had heard so much 

 about, could not be coming to me in this manner ! 

 It did, and often since then, when the bait has 

 been taking its flight to a far distance, sent by the 

 slightest of switches from this toy of a rod, and 

 when it has been gracefully bending from top to 

 butt with the rush of a 20 Ib. fish, I have been 

 thinking what I shall give my friend in return. He 



