OF PURFLING AGAIN 273 



VEN : I see no fly, and it is eight minutes past 

 the hour. 



Pise : Nay, my most particular scholar, would 

 you hold me to a minute ? No man may be so 

 nice as to the moment of its coming. We shall 

 see it in good time, never fear. Hand me your 

 rod ; a pretty tool indeed, but ill-balanced and 

 something too limber for our manner of fishing. 

 See, this is mine; stiff, springy, and lovable. I 

 use no other. With this rod, no matter how bloweth 

 the wind, I will lay my fly on a sixpence at twenty- 

 five yards in the first throw. It is to yours, scholar, 

 as the day is to the night. 



YEN : Indeed, master, I have so little of the art 

 that I can find no difference between them. The 

 tackle-maker hath served me ill, for he sold me this 

 same rod as a perfect copy of your own. 



Pise : These tackle-makers are for the most part 

 arrant knaves. But, scholar, I see that you have 

 already tied on your fly ; and a detached badger 

 a most unworthy contrivance. Trust me, this is 

 not what honest fishermen are used to do. 



VEN : Nay, master, never scold me ; I did but 

 wish to be ready. 



Pise : Trust me, you do but waste your time ; 

 for while it hath been computed that there are no 

 less than seven thousand six hundred and forty- 

 three different sorts of fly tied by these same 



