122 LIBERTY AND A LIVING, 



asts going home in a pelting rain with an 

 empty creel between them. They have been 

 out all day and are drenched to the skin. One 

 says : " What a glorious sport this fishing is ! 

 What would life be without it ? " " Yes, in- 

 deed," responds the other, " I shall never forget 

 that nibble as long as I live ! " This is the true 

 spirit in which to fish. 



I was pretty sure that upon so clear and 

 cloudless a day there would be wind after the 

 sun passed the meridian, and, sure enough, the 

 breeze began to come clear and cold from the 

 ocean before one o'clock. It was a good breeze 

 to take us home, and so we determined to push 

 on for a few miles more for the sake of trying 

 the bluefish on the cinder beds. The enjoyment 

 and refreshment of a cold wind after the sultry 

 stagnation under a hot sun was reward enough 

 for our previous discomfort, and the spirits of 

 the party rose as the boom swung over to star- 

 board and we started again for Fire Island, 

 headed down the bay. Luncheon was got out, 

 and we munched our sandwiches and prepared 

 the tackle for fishing. 



With the breeze a haze also spread over the 

 horizon. South of us we had the Fire Island 



