SPORTING SKETCHES. 251 



etc., for dinner. Then drive back to the "station," and in a 

 desperate hurry, for we have taken too long over our meal listen- 

 ing to some wonderful stories of the day's sport. My guide, Joe, 

 is a marvellous "raconteur" and amused us by telling us that 

 last week he had a fine fat heron for dinner. He liked it better 

 than duck. The only fault he could find with it was that his 

 wife could not wash the smell of this "gamey" bird off the 

 plates and knives and forks, although she had tried her be>t ever 

 since. "Chacun a son gout "after all we need not have hurried 

 to the train, for it was again late. The very amiable station- 

 master made many apologies and offered us the best chairs and 

 other conveniences at his disposal. We reached home without 

 accident which, after all, our wives thought the greatest de- 

 sideratum. We have since had a good sleep and feel well 

 disposed towards everything and everybody and are already 

 looking forward to the next day's duck shooting. 



A TRUTHFUL AND MODEST FISH STORY.' 



Written by D. D., in memory of a fishing trip with J. L. M., 

 June Wtli, 1896. 



We went fishing, just for a fine June day. The first train 

 out of town took us to a wharf where w^e should have met our 

 boatmen, but alas, when we left the train, the train left us 

 standing alone, none to welcome us. Fortunately, how r ever, we 

 were seen by one who had compassion on our lonliness and 

 offered to find us a boat and a man to row it ; more than this, 

 one who knew the ground and who fished for a living. Our 

 friend went off for this boatman, even walked to his house, but 

 the Fates seemed against us. He was not there, and they (his 

 better half) did not know what had become of him. We insti- 

 tuted a search and found him fast asleep in his boat under the 

 wharf ; he seemed to be dreaming pleasantly, but we had no 

 pity and in answer to our call up he started. Of course he was 

 quite ready to go with us at once, but he had not breakfasted, 

 which accounted for his anxious glances at our well-filled lunch 

 baskets. 



