54 CATCHING THE WILY SEA-TROUT 



with pleasure the reports that would be forthcoming 

 from these two experts after they had wetted their lines 

 in the contiguous river. They spent that afternoon in 

 assembling their gear and mounting flies in readiness for 

 the evening's expedition. After tea they started for the 

 fray and they were faultlessly equipped with gear and 

 waders. I was standing outside the inn at the time, 

 and naturally I wished them the best of luck. One 

 angler had proceeded about a dozen yards, while his 

 companion had stopped to adjust his net. Suddenly, 

 the foremost one halted, turned round and called out, 

 " Have you got the worms ? " The one with the unruly 

 net glared at his questioner, saw the uncontrollable smile 

 on my face, burst out laughing and exclaimed to his 

 friend, " You ruddy idiot. You bawl out, so that all 

 the ruddy village can hear, have I got the ruddy worms. 

 Oh, you. 1 ' The joke and its sequel were so spontaneous, 

 that the three of us laughed heartily without restraint. 



However, when the two returned from an evening's 

 hard toil, neither had touched a fish, but I did not inquire 

 whether the flies had failed as well as the worms. 



Yet one more amusing tilt at another wormer's subter- 

 fuge. At a well-known resort, frequented by numerous 

 sea-trout anglers, arrived two friends, strangers to me, 

 eager for conquest. As I was intent on night fishing at 

 the time, my offices were sought by the couple. My 

 experience was unreservedly placed at their disposal, 

 and I displayed the flies which had already assisted 

 me in collecting a few fish. The three of us mounted 

 identical flies and we set forth gleefully when the sun 

 had finished a September day's duty. 



Upon reaching the water I explained the layout of my 

 favourite pool. Without any ado one of the pair elected 

 to remain near me, while the other said that he preferred 

 the lower end of the reach. The night was cloudless, 



