274 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



matter, provided you have a friend who will 

 volunteer to read you up. In my aged innocence 

 I thought my fine dark blue silk harling lines 

 perfection, but it is not so : rather thick, light 

 brown lines are, it seems, much better ; and both 

 my blues would have gone in exchange had I not 

 protested that the advantage would have been all 

 mine had he given me both of his browns for my 

 blues. Winches that run silently out when the 

 check is off struck his fancy, but he was not quite 

 sure they were as good as his that required pulling 

 at with a vigorous stroke, and which gave back a 

 responding squeal. However, he would try one, 

 and after a few days' fishing we could compare 

 notes. Geen's leads and wire traces he knew 

 something of, but unfortunately had none with him. 

 This being satisfactorily adjusted, I suggested bed, 

 whereupon he very kindly offered the opinion that 

 I was now very fairly equipped. Of course I 

 thanked him from my heart when saying good- 

 night, or, rather, good-morning we were travelling 

 by the 11.50 P.M. express. 



To leave dull, enervating London, as it is in 

 the early new year, for the exhilarating rush of a 

 L. and N. W. R. train as it speeds to the North 

 and the fishings is a tonic to me that is worth many 

 times its cost. I am soon asleep, and intermingled 

 with dreams of running waters and leaping fish 

 are half-conscious moments, made at last wholly 

 conscious by callings of my name by my friend, 



