REMINISCENT TALES 



This token gave hope. Teasing to wind- 

 ward his porous bark, he cast toward the 

 pads but not among them. The cast con- 

 sisted of three flies on No. 6 sproat hooks; 

 Henshall for the drop; scarlet Ibis, midway; 

 and Montreal, tail-fly; in order to ascer- 

 tain which one might prove to be the favorite. 



Breezes rippled the surface just enough, 

 the sunlight was exactly right, and the day 

 showed that these elusive warriors were in 

 the proper mood, for artificial flies were 

 successful lures. Swift rushes and rises, 

 sharp strikes and powerful fighting began 

 and continued. 



In a leaky boat, minus a landing net or 

 anyone to aid him, the Angler became too 

 occupied to make any changes in his tackle 

 had he so wished, as a school of excited and 

 large fish began to leap all about and near 

 the lily-pads. Years of experience made it 

 possible for him to keep calm and work 

 carefully, so not a fish was lost. 



Act the first ended; for it became obliga- 

 tory to cry a halt and bail. Truly a strange 

 metamorphosis had taken place. The fish 

 taken had been quickly and gently un- 

 hooked and fell back into their element; but 

 only in the portion encircled by the frame- 



32 



